At the age of 2 months,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzSKgf6A3R

My first time being punished physically, copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWHxR1hcKZ

My father flicked my arm.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡpheUyGYSHs

He was frustrated and tired,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡDB1vliLsSO

At his wit's end, most likely, and readilycopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiL1PD27QN

waited for my response.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6f5laD28wK

I didn't cry or even poutcopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9lDEHVp9O

But I swiveled around and utterly shocked himcopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡet60vWEy3u

By wordlessly staring,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaKqwU4y3A

Not at his hand that flicked me, but in his eyescopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEKEiomdOv

Not not pitiful or guilt-struck. copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23Z94u5I39

After that,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡcojXPQRUoV

My parents knew,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHzfmREI5s

I would becopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8weiAJnjM

Safe.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwbRt1HlV6

It's a habit of mine, really.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqOQGaIkTO

I simply make eye contact and don't ever break itcopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7WjleU5Cd

If I'm scared our of my mind.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9J21c3IxZ

I won't say a wordcopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡONpCD5NmqG

My expression won't change in the slightest, and Icopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡadO6x9lrfY

Analyze the situation quickly.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡE68o89AcR8

My Dad laughs when Icopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGWBjAH7W7

Talk about dating someone mean, rude, and disrespectful, copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6lBdSLyj0

Just to tease him with the idea,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡwY7FmgOXsG

Saying that a guy wouldn't copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6En2gGCXNz

Dare treat me like that because I wasn't scared to act against him.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BFqdSiYrC

I guess he's right.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYA6DXmsVP

I'd stare a dragon strait in the eyescopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81uv3LcGIZ

Just for fun.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOBVfOOxMg

Even with friends,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMfKTSIglD

I was with a close classmate after school when some strangercopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tFAZJlbq4

Walked up to us.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGTMC8ArGn

He wasn't all there,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQ9WB3Pjja

Starting horribly inappropriate conversations with us,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqEC1DmmOM

And while my friend looked away, I didn't.  I don't know why,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZslL4tmv9

But I stared himcopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdZT9AWZUg

Right in the eyes.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRGOuHrQ4g

He eventually left.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwg5R29koF

Later that night, apparently two girls were kidnapped.  copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8Su124Y1Z

It wasn't us, and my friend ended up really shook up.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡebRV0mDrcH

Those type of things have never bother me,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ijJWO4bKE
copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPdZU514qq

But I was the only one,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUyCoAEtyF

After all,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNRkIRGljT

Who got a good look at him,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32Ih1Dm3IM

And in the eyes.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsH246CIzb

My Mom is pretty goofy sometimes,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2YgmH833s

Energetic and spontaneous, like a football hitting the ground,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6uFnwjKz1

I like to think I take after her.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3te5xkIgT

Although stubborn and blunt like my father,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFWRViz3mC

I still enjoy a good adventure, I still like being dorky,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡviI0X6wgQ5

And my Mom knows this.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡin8LBejVWA

She always makes sure I knowcopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPfKHb3gfp

That whatever crazy idea I have swimming around in my headcopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKIBLFHhWy

Is actually important,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡneVwZwKjrG

And that my sense for discovery copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgw91dk4uz

Should always be quenched no matter how insane it may becomecopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡunkcY5SGnO

Even if it means chasing a sunset for three hourscopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡfK2ag2H1l8

On a school night.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfpdoqrIvV

I was super tired the next morning.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZiCchI4Y5

It was worth it.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdQVo7Y58k

"Never grow out of that," copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡePzD3X3uGz

She still says that and I can't forget,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZyJBL0jPZ

"Even if it means chasing something for a bit."copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIdfEBmCHu

Though chasing a subject isn't bad for me since I'm so stubborn.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWkwAouDTb

And bullheaded.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjaL2Lw35m

But whenever I'm facedcopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2v5fKKR7mz

With an amazing opportunity, and I can go wherever, copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjvXQ5lkJe

I go everywhere.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWyGIAseDx

Just because I can,copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡBF2GVNqMVN

Just to spite reality and leave it speechless.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡmy7RvXXRiG

And because I want to.copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OCEukeWzR

Seize the day, right?  Thanks for reading, and a super fun contest, if I do say so myself!  :)copyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaxxRtlifg

​-LovelyShereecopyright protection88ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BPdtkbqcu

54.224.184.33