Family

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You know why I love her?
Because she scolds me and chides me
Because she understands the difference between too much and not yet
Because she sees me more than I see myself
and has never let me let go no matter how much I hated it
I'm happy now because she knew I would be back then
and she's been my best friend
when I felt like the only lonely person in the whole wide world.

You know why I love her.
Because she's my mom.

You know why I love him?
Because he pushes me high on swings
Because he holds me high in his arms
Because his proud smile makes me feel like I'm floating
and no matter how high I am
I will always reach my hands higher
for the next cloud above me
since I know he wants me to reach it.

You know why I love him.
Because he's my dad.

You know why I love her?
Because she says she doesn't love me back and I know she's lying
Because she has my back in ways no one else can
Because she's the one I've said I'd kick out of my life, and she's still here
When my confidence is withering because of a couple words or actions
she'll say a couple things in that annoying, familiar voice
and I'll laugh so hard, the hurt disappears.

You know why I love her.
Because she's my sister.

You know why I love them?
Because they're a whole different world
Because they're me, but so amazingly different
Because they're memories, a present, but also a wish for the future
They're the ones who'll do nothing but be themselves
and make me feel warm with the shine of connection
so I can say 'I love you' and hear the same thing back filled with truth
which makes me feel rich, rich beyond belief and imagination.

You know why I love them.
Because they're my friends.

You know why I love me?

Because it would be stupid not to
when all these beautiful people
are people I can call
someone of mine.

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