You Can't Change The Stripes On A Tiger

The Epiphany 

I just realized,

how much has changed.

In the last year,

I lost a lot of people.

I lost a lot of my friendships, 

and the people who say,

"I'll always be here for you"

ended up leaving. 

People really do change in a way,

but I've recently learned to accept you can't change

who they truly are, even if you want to.

You can't change the stripes on a tiger. 

I guess that is just how life works.

Maybe it's why something inside,

is hurting me-

That's why i need cigarettes,

or a drink,

or music turned up so loud,

I can't fucking think. 

And I can no longer sleep well,

not without seeing that face,

or hearing that name,

or waking to crying, screaming pain.

That's why I stare at the ceiling,

for hours on end, in the dark,

just wishing to go back and change time,

but I can't.

Nothing will ever be right again, 

I know that now...