Lyrical Essay:

Lost in the forest:

The dense forest lays in front of me,

forced inwards.

Gripping the impossible to decipher the map in my clammy hands.

The paper moistened not by the humidity.

Alone

No one to help.

Stuck in this forest

Alone.

“Have you read Harry Potter!?”

I ask the tiger as it circles around me, not yet attacking.

“ItisoneofmyfavoritebookseriesandI’maravenclawbecauseIlovetoreadandspellsarereallycool and

Gasp

I also love Star Wars I reallywishIwasajediknightsavingthegalaxywithLukeandLeiaandHanandChewbakabecauseIwouldbereallygoodatit-”

The tiger looks at me with disapproval in its eyes.

I look to my map.

But I can’t make out anything

Alone

“Body language is a b*tch” – Anonymous (2018):

“That’s a REAL nice shirt you have on there.”

Someone likes your shirt?

“You really like it!!! Thank you!”

You swell with pride and elation from the compliment.

You notice as her face switches from happy to embarrassment.

Your once elated face starts to fade as well to embarrassment.

But it isn’t embarrassment. You know what that look is now because it’s what is on your own face. It’s embarrassment.

Your hands get clammy again and you run into the bathroom.

You put on your jacket and you wipe the tears away.

And you move on.

Alone

I stare at Leslie Knope’s face as her mouth moves with no sound coming out.

I look at her motions, her hands, her face, her posture, her hands, her face, her posture.

I think she is upset with Anne.

I rewind back to the beginning.

Unmuted now I can hear the harshness of Leslie’s voice as she gets upset at Anne.

I smile.

I was correct.

I guess I suck a little less than I used to.

There are people all around me that are feeling elated. They don’t care that I love to talk about Harry Potter, Star Wars, and how the Oracle from DC comics is a bad a** b*tch. And I don’t feel so alone.