I lie awake
When sleep won't come
And think.
Think about life,
How this essay
And history test
And physics problems
Won't matter a year from now.

When I think about the future
In this way,
It's blissful.
It seems
So simple,
So much happier
And brighter.

The future is unknown, and
As long as it stays distant,
I can pretend
It'll be perfect.

But I'm kidding myself.
For when I think of the pain,
When I remember that
It likely won't leave,
My life
Seems long, and
The future looks bleak.

The future is unknown, and
When I think of it in this way,
That there will be many more
Arguments, more
Stubbed toes and hangnails,
Broken friendships
And betrayal;
More sorrow,
More grief,
More disappointment,
More pain,

It looks no different.

Life seems an endless battle,
Day after day after day
We all fight.
This will never change.

But I think about the good things.

There will be more hugs,
More kisses,
More birthday presents and
Wishes.
More sweet chocolate,
Sipping lemonade in the sun,
And heart-warming books.
More love,
More happiness,
More warmth,
More fun,
More LIFE.

And the future no longer looks bleak;
Life no longer seems too long.

I don't dread what's to come, because
The future is unknown
For a reason.

As I lie awake I think
About what I look forward to,
And smile as I drift to sleep,

And dream about the future.