faded gleam, renewed dream

Author: Bryan Milstead

Bryan Duong Milstead is a 14-year-old Asian American student based in the Shenandoah Valley. He was a national winner of the 2022 NASA "Power to Explore" essay challenge and has had two journalistic articles published on the "Virginia Association of Journalism Teachers and Advisers" (VAJTA) website, displaying his immense enthusiasm for writing. Sophisticated imagery and the intricacies of human emotions are two things he enjoys incorporating within his work.

there was a light within all of us.
it experienced beautiful, idyllic times,
problems abundantly were kept at bay,
and our rose-colored cheeks were invigorated by sunshine

there was a light within all of us.
it nourished our spirits through serene summer evenings,
that danced like dandelion seeds on a gentle breeze,
and encouraged our fiery red hearts in its dreaming

until a day arrived — no, was it just a day?
was it just a day that our light faded
being dimmed into a numb nothingness,
suppressed by the breeze which had once sang and now, cursed our names
where cerulean tears washed the rosiness from our faces and dripped into flower vases
with layers of skin, bone, and soul peeled back like wrapping paper from our
favorite childhood gifts

or was it weeks, months, and years of pain that caused us to be this way?
stressful workdays, people who betrayed, and malignant hearsay?
a darkness which shoved us into survival mode, flipped our worlds upside down and inside out,
made our cries for help feel unheard,
eyes heavy, lips shut, bearing the weight of the world on our shoulders
had us wondering how long this would last until we grew older…

my friend, this is not where the story ends
our light can be uncovered, rediscovered, it is like no other
our light never died, it just needed to be rekindled
with every trial and tribulation adding a spark
reaffirming our strengths, accepting our weaknesses
we will no longer self-judge or hold a grudge,
but instead reclaim our self esteems, dreams, and everything in between
and slowly, but surely, we will heal.
with our light being so bright and intense that we have no choice but to spread it to others,
who suffered just like us
in hopes that they may find their light again

there is a light within all of us.
don’t ever, for one second, believe you aren’t worthy of possessing it.