Author's Note: Originally part of a collection; I'll be posting each of the drabbles separately. The prompt for this one was 'in the middle of winter I at last discovered that there was in me an invincible summer '.
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Fearless
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Sometimes, I can be strong.
Sometimes, I can be strong enough to breathe. I can be strong enough to inhale the soot and dust and remains of the earth, to thrive on the dregs of time. I've always been a cold-coffee kind of girl anyway. When so many people take and take and leave just enough left, you take and make do with just enough.
Sometimes, I can be strong enough to stand still. It's a scary world out there. The best option is to flee. It's only logical to separate yourself from your past and your future.
But what takes courage is the act of standing still. Letting the monsters come up to you and sniff your hand and snort in your face. It's okay to be afraid. It's okay to let your breath catch when the shadows surround you and want to drag you down.
Sometimes, I can be strong enough to fight the shadows. Sometimes, I'm too tired, and I find myself trapped in the underworld with them.
But sometimes I can fight my way out, back to stand next to my friends.
It's not true what they say, that friendship is for the weak. It's a different kind of strength, to immerse yourself in a group of people. Doesn't change the fact that it takes strength to dance in the rain by yourself.
Sometimes, I can be strong. And someday, I'll stand in the sun (despite what they say, despite what I fear, despite what will happen). Someday, I'll stand in the sun.