Proof

This is my proof to those who said I couldn’t;

To those who thought I couldn’t-

Including myself:

I’m still here.

This is my proof.

The heart beating frantically in my chest

Half-chewed fingernails shaped at odd angles

Dents in pencils from stressful drumming

Worn out inner shoe soles

Faded colors of stretched out clothes;

There is my proof.

No scars on my arms

Only cowardly self-threats in journals

There is my proof.

Salty tear stains on my sketchbooks

Bent and ripped pages of homework assignments

There is my proof.

Indents in my bed and pillow

Off colored splotches on stuffed animals

There is my proof.

Friends that I meet everyday

Friends that I only glimpse at online

This is my proof.

This is the proof that despite all odds,

I’m still here

And I’m proud of having made it this far.

Some days life is too difficult to face-

I want to hide away

But that is also proof that I am indeed living.

If I was able to make it this far

It is proof that you can make it too

I didn’t believe in myself for quite a while,

But now I do;

And I believe in you

This is my proof.