She was

She was beautiful, in a world where beauty seized to exist

without makeup and gaudy jewelry.                                 

She was strong, in a world that constantly tried to break her

and tear her apart.                                                   

She was determined, in a world full of people who simply sat on

their butts waiting for something to happen.                                                                                                                                                     

She was independent, in a world that could no longer think for

themselves.                                                           

She was an inspiration, in a world that lacked a true

understanding of love, of perserverance, of hope, of goals and

dreams and aspirations.                                                                                                                                       

She was everything I strived to be.