Trade Poem by Vanessa Kingsley

I traded my razor for a pen
I swapped my pills for candy
(But really, what’s the difference?)
I turned my tears into laughs
I turned my hurt into love
My lies were made truths
Instead of pushing away
I pushed towards
Instead of sitting in the dark
I sat in bright shadows
I gave up suicide
For life
I gave up hospitals
For school
I gave up the darkness
So I could live
Breathe
Feel
I’m here for a reason
I’m here to be real