Before Chapter One
by Jonathan Lim

There will be no long, drawn-out goodbyes,
there will be no tears because no one will cry.
Only a little boy stepping out into a brave new world,
as the next chapter of his story begins to unfurl.

All the hopes and dreams are cast aside.
Let go of your deepest fears and take everything in your stride.
In a time of confusion and misguided ghosts,
only your heart can tell you what you want the most.

When thrown into the brutal jungle of human reality,
hold on to not what you see, but who you are and what you believe.
When the world begins to question their souls,
soul-searching will simply lead you to the values of old.

A fresh page awaits the smudge of an old friend.
Before a new beginning, there must be a familiar end.
As this little boy left his old world behind and ran,
this little boy will be one step closer to being a man.

sleep well, my misguided ghosts.
in the morning, we will learn.