Hindsight and the monolith of ivory rule happiness like forgotten strangers' corpses shrouded in wild violets. Temples and gravestones twisted and broken among fallen trees and weeds, underneath an untouchable sea of violets. Untouchable flowers that taunt the empty with their vibrant colors, disguising a wisp of death with a lie of beauty. A smile on a sad face. When will it be enough? We look different on paper than we do in real life, and to others, and to ourselves. Outer voices rule our inner voices and we don't let ourselves believe compliments. People are complex and you're okay. You can be scared of life, but don't be so scared of it that you don't want it anymore. You can be scared of society, but don't be so scared of it that you shut down. You can be scared of yourself, but don't be so scared that you allow yourself to be crushed under the foot of someone else.

Watch the sky go black then a bright burning blue, the sun scorching your face with the lamentation of late rest. Please wake up from Tylenol comas, don't go softly into the night. Put the entire world up in flames, go in and out like a wild fire. Burn everything in your path and turn it to ash. I counted down from ten and only made it to five. I was scared that if I went to sleep, I wasn't going to wake up. I'm glad I was scared.

Happiness is the smell of VHS tapes next to silent eye smiles, the absence of judgement, and sing-screaming Disney songs on the top of our lungs. Happiness is a chemical reaction that happens after you help someone or knowing you helped make them happy or made them laugh. Happiness is being able to share kindness, share knowledge, share experiences with people. Happiness is curiosity and children's laughter. If you need a reason to live, it's people. Bettering the lives of people is the contemporary purpose for human life. Be a part of that.