Of the stranger,
Of the friend,
Of the burning sun,
Of the moonless night,
Of the broken down minivan,
Of the billing department,
Of the pain in my back,
Of the ending of a beautiful day,
Of the end of joy,
Of the suffering to come,
Of the walk alone,
Of the crowded room,
Of the loss of life,
Of the future of what remains
I will not be afraid.
I will not live my life closed off from the other.
I will not close my hand into a fist.
I will not wrap that fist around the grip of a gun.
I will not hate.
I will not fear.
I will be open.
I will be vulnerable.
I will be trusting.
I will be hopeful.
I will be unguarded.
A life of fear is not worth living.
I choose a life of love.