25. i'm still here. all this time, all these years, all this thought, all this expectation, all removed, all apprehension lifted, weight removed, gone, light as a feather, floating on clouds of sugar spun in cylinders at carnivals, but it was supposed to mark the end, a loss of self, a death of a part, me, something that would have made me stop being who i was, and so true in that, but not after, but before, and after, well, it's a whole new story, it's a brand new game, day, bag, a 1/4 century down, more to go, filled with hope and dreams with smiles