#128

I...


I've always been fond of long walks.


Long walks have always had me

diving deep into my thoughts.


Whether it's beneath a scorching sun,

on a rainy evening,

or even a lonely walk

through a deserted street at night,

accompanied only

by flickering streetlights—


I'm in love with them.


Unfortunately,

those deep dives

also uncover

the darkest corners of my mind.


One of them

came after

I had a fit of frustration.


I'm only human,

before all else.


I know

I'm flawed.


But that,

too,

is what makes me...


me.


Anyhow,

at that time,

I was

wallowing in my anger—


desperate,

exhausted,

and sad.


I viewed myself

as a tragic hero.


Who doesn't?


Yet,

at the very end

of that tragic moment,


I saw

a glimmer of hope.


A future


I, too,

could dream of.


I saw myself

getting better.


Doing better

than ever before.


Exacting my vengeance.


Then suddenly,


a driving query

came:


Is it still me?


Like a ghost

haunting me

for what felt like

an eternity,


the question

flooded my mind,

again and again:


Is it still me?


Is it still me?


Along with it

came visions

of my future self—


wearing

a smile so genuine,


with eyes


I couldn't tell

still glistened.


Doubts

soon followed.


But all of it,


like the flame

of a quaint,

flickering candle,


was swept away


when someone


all too familiar


called out

my name.


My real name.


I smiled.


The world

heard my question


without it

ever being asked.


I got my answer.

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