by Laura Kelmelis

A story always starts at the beginning of something new
It becomes an adventure that soon changes you

A story can teach you something about yourself and your life
It can help you out when you're down, filled with grief, fear or strife

All stories have a hero who is brave, just and true
A hero full of courage, and in this case it's YOU!

A hero is someone willing to fight for what is right
A person who cares for all, with all of their might

You vow to defend all creatures great and small
And come across a Hermit with a quest bigger than them all

He details his mission to defeat the evil that plagues him
Every day is a struggle and wishes just once for a win

His heart is always heavy and he feels it may burst
Though he searches for knowledge he can't quench his thirst

Nothing he does seems to give him direction
He feels lost and alone without love and affection

You join his grand quest and he hands you a map
He Points to the "X" and warns "Be wary of traps!"

Together you travel over land and sea
Past beautiful farms, mountains and trees

The Hermit tells stories of monsters and ghosts
Not all of them friendly or excellent hosts

The Hermit brings you down dark and unfamiliar roads
Filled with demons and sprites and mischievous toads

Even heroes get scared but you know deep down inside
Doing right may be hard but it's how evil subsides

You spend many months on the Hermit's grand quest
And start to see what the Hermit can't get off his chest

He holds on to his anger and can't let go of the past
The world is out to get him and he feels like an outcast

You listen closely to his worries taking care to remember
To help everyone you meet, act as valiant defender

To stand up to bullies and for those who have little
For love shared is love earned and it spreads like a ripple

Through each selfless action and courageous endeavor
You learn more about each other and that evil is clever

It changes shapes, speaks half truths, and fills up the dark
It lies and is boastful, and is extremely smart

Discouraged, as evil seems to keep growing,
And in spite of the meanness others keep showing

You know kindness is the key to evils undoing
To love without judgement of others wrongdoing

The Hermit watches you fight your battles big and small
He sees you handle them with grace and get back up when you fall

The Hermit begins to see the world through your eyes
He opens his mind to others hurt, pain and cries

He sees that his past is just another story
One he can change if he lets go of his worry

You both return from your quest having understood something profound
That everyone is doing their best with what they have around

We all come with different stories, some true, others not
It's how they define you, affect your actions, change your thoughts

The point of this story is to be kind to a fault
To take others judgements with a grain of salt

Remember that your story is not written in stone
Change your mind, change your thoughts and you won't feel alone

Be patient with yourself and as many people as you can
Open your heart and your mind and meet others where they stand

Remember that change won't happen overnight
Only time and deep reflection can reveal the light

Take this story with you wherever you go
Share it and live it so that others will know

All stories finish whether happy or sad
In this case it leaves you with more than you had.