Friends, acquaintances, and faces that I only knew from frequent sightings in the hallway:
I'd like to thank you.
First and foremost, to those routine strangers, thank you for letting me be who I am without any critique, or backlash.
Next, my acquaintances, I appreciate your social honesty from not knowing me well enough to defend, but just enough to tell me when I'm wrong, so I may stay in line -most of the time.
Lastly, friends, what I'd like to say may be crudely surprising -I would not like to thank you.
Yes, we welcomed each other to many unforgettable times, and laughter was the expressed form of gratitude, I'm worried to tell you what I could never say before.
I am not entirely who I'm thought to be.
Never the reason of an undesired change, even though there's always room to internally evolve, but because I have yet to bloom in front you, like a fern that folds up when shrouded by shade.
I may have been a subtle color, but my insides were just as vibrant as any flower, yet I was too scared to exfoliate my shell.
As those rare cicadas, it took 17 years to arise, and fly, but it's only a short time now before our friendship dies, because we will soon move on.
I wasn't my full self, and I regret not letting you see, but then I'd remember when we'd rag on those who acted as such, so I guess it was best to remain silent.
One would presume that those who are close, are the primary sources to share with, but there's always secrets locked safe inside an insane mind. I wish you were crazy enough to be my key, because I often felt trapped.
So much so, that I'm ranting to new bodies, and if heard by you, I'd have nobody after hearing the dreaded statement, "who are you?"
But gladly, that isn't the case because these amateur therapists never "met" me yet.
I'm sorry to be harsh, but you were even harder, rather than allowing me to open up, I've been crushed, only able to recuperate through an isolated existence -healed, and now, with a resistance to reflect all hatred.
Doomed to wonder what might have been, I hope for all to recall the times in which your real figure has been repressed, and rebound from those moments, rocket to your actual, admirable traits.
Surround yourself with an appropriate atmosphere.
Get suited into a comfortable, independent orbit, and enjoy the ride, because the only time you won't shine is when you're hiding behind something that isn't you.
So I say, be who you must, no matter what, or who you come to meet, for everyone, at some point, will become a distant face.