Where the Birds Always Sing

Well, I'm back sooner than I thought I would be- this will be short though. The weekend kind of got worse last night, and, to put it in Ali's words, I "got everything that was coming" to me. I think that I could have rounded up a firing squad of people that I've hurt. Blah. Anyway, tonight's another lonely one, I'm missing a few people right now- three people to be exact. All of them much too far out of my reach- in more than one way.

I wish I was going away to college in the spring. I wish I was even able to go to a university then. But I made my own bed. I guess everything does happen for a reason. I just want to make sure I'm not missing out on life.

I wish that love could just be love, and anger could be anger, and joy could be joy. I wish that regrets could be dealt with and memories could stay as simply memories. I wish that truth would always win out and being yourself could always be as simple as it should be. I wish there weren't reasons to cover emotions and that sadness could be accepted as just that. I wish that nostalgia could be easier to deal with. I wish that dreams of the past didn't exist as a constant reminder. I wish this world was a better place. I wish there was a way to ease everyone's pain.

Anyway, I've gone into rambling mode, so I'll quit that.

I've just been thinking recently, I really want to be a worthwhile person, you know? I want to be interesting and worthy of love and full of life and joy. I want to be someone who is deserving of real love. And I guess that's why it's been so long since I've had someone who cared about me for me and who I was able to open to, because I'm just not there. Who cares about this home-schooled girl who left school because of lack of confidence and has spent the last year and a half wasting time and hiding her heart? What is there for people to get to know about me? I can flirt, but what's beneath that? I'm not even sure if I know anymore. And this isn't who I want to be. I want to be happy and loving and capable and talented and beautiful. And I'm not. No one can love a shell, and a shell isn't capable of loving either. And maybe that's part of the problem, no one needs me anymore; I have always felt like I needed to protect and help my friends. And they just don't need me anymore and I think it's taken away part of me. I don't know. It's late and I'm probably just thinking too much. This is probably one of those times where self-reflection isn't in my best interest.

I Keep My Secrets Safe

It's been a long time since I've written- I've started a journal now so I haven't needed to write as much. But today has just been a pretty awful day and I honestly just need someone to talk to. Sarah and her boyfriend just broke up so I definitely can't complain to her, and my mom is incredibly stressed out about her new job. And I don't know, I hate calling up people to whine. I hate being weak. I want to be okay and be strong. I mean, things aren't really that bad at all, it's just been a bad day.

I found out last night that my dad (the biological one) is taking a job in a rough part of Africa. I don't know all the details yet. And I know it sounds dumb considering I've only seen him twice in the past four years, but it's still scary. I do love him, and I'm worried for him. And I'm worried for my mom with this new job... she's going to be working a lot and I don't want this to be like her old job at MMG. I mean, she'll be making a lot more money, but I'm scared for her. It's going to be a big change. And I'm worried about Sarah and Emma and the respective problems that they're dealing with. And it's all a little overwhelming, because there's nothing I can do.

Things have just been so weird lately. I'm working a lot, and I like my job, but I'm also not going anywhere with my schoolwork. I mean, I could get done half a course in a week over the summer when I had time to sit down and do it. But I guess I feel so unmotivated. I have no idea what I want to do with my life. I mean, I want to make a difference, and I want to be happy. But beyond that, I don't know. I'm thinking I may just stay here and go to CPCC until next fall. Which I hate, because I know that I can do better. I know that I'm not living up to my potential. But I guess it's mostly fear. And now I feel like I've trapped myself with no other options. But it's only a year, and I can live with that.

But all that isn't even what's been getting me so down all day, that's more of the icing on the cake type thing- or whatever the negative equivalent to that metaphor is. I feel so lost, like I don't belong in my own skin. I don't feel like myself, and I've felt really lonely lately. I keep on talking to/dating these guys, and every time it's the same. In the beginning I get really excited and think things are going to be great. 2 weeks in and it's done. I lose all interest. It's draining me and I don't even want to deal with guys anymore. I'm just done with having to go through the same disappointment every time when it's just not there. And I hate leading them on. I don't want to hurt people. And I don't want to keep hurting myself. I feel like there's something wrong with me. Is there no one out there that's even close to right for me? I know I'm only 18, but I haven't had actual feelings in a relationship in a long time. I get so mad at myself, and I don't know how to fix it. And now that Sarah and Emma are gone, I don't have anyone here that I'm real friends with. I haven't just "hung out" with someone since they left. It's always with some guy, and I'm tired of it. And I hate that these guys think they really like me and are into me- and they don't even know me! They don't even bother to get to know me. I don't even know the last time that someone actually liked me for me. But that's probably my fault too. I don't know how to open up to people anymore. I don't even know if I want anyone close to me anymore. I feel so lost.

I wish I could just go back, you know? To change things, or relive them, or whatever. But I guess that's the whole point, I can only move forward, and if I keep trying to go back, I'll just keep making the same mistakes like I've been doing for a long time now. Sometimes I just want to drive myself over the edge you know- go crazy, make lots of new mistakes, not do the right thing for once, but I can't make myself do it. I don't want to, it's not who I am. I just wish I had a friend here to lean on =/ Someone who knows me. But I guess I've said that a few times already. It's late, I should probably go, I'm really just rambling now. I just don't want to go to bed with this sad feeling in my chest.

Goodnight; tonight's quote is from Heart's a Mess by Gotye.

"You have lost too much, love, to fear, doubt, and distrust- It's not enough. You just threw away the key to your heart."

Addicted to Love

Well it's only been three weeks and already so much has changed. Time seems to pull everything apart, constantly reaping and sewing, leaving us all unsure of what the end product will be.

I won't be leaving for Western Carolina until January... Which I thought could be a good thing, but I'm not thinking that so much anymore. I'll be staying here and working and trying to do all that I can. I don't know. It will definitely be hard to watch Emma and Sarah leave. I just don't know if I can handle it. I mean, I will. But still. I love them both so much, and I hate to be lonely.

And of course I worry. I worry so much about them. About if they're going to be okay, I don't like feeling displaced when people need me. That's what shoves wedges between me and people. I can't stand the thought of it, so I pull away. And it's hard to reconnect after the distance. And it gets harder every time. I don't know if that makes much sense really.

Tonight I finished reading The Host, it was my second time. I love it. It's my favorite book. It never fails to make me sad though; the way that she has wandered for so long and finally finds a place where she belongs and is loved. And all of the overwhelming compassion they feel for each other, and those dynamics. After it's over, it always leaves me empty. For hours I can get lost in this world where someone can find a home, and even through the longing and desperation and sadness, love still comes out on top, and it just fills me up with all the emotion- the good and the bad. And when it's done, it drains me. It's like, all that just leaves. And then it's over. Just, over. All that's left is yearning for something more.

I guess I'm just in a melancholy mood. And mostly beyond words. I feel like I have so much more to say, but I don't know how to.

I just hate that I had something dangled in front of my eyes, the one thing I really want. And for a split second I thought I had it. But the joke is on me. It was snatched away. I feel like I'll never have it.

Ugh. Alright, I'm tired. I should leave. Just let me say that I won't give up hope. One day it will all be right. I will find the things I want, even if I can't actually feel that now. I will force patience and hope.

And, I have a quote from The Host.

"It's not the face, but the expressions on it. It's not the voice, but what you say. It's not how you look in that body, but the things you do with it"

Waiting for You

One month and I'm gone. That's it. In one month, I will be sitting in my dorm room at Western Carolina as long as everything goes according to plan.

Taking little trips down memory lane probably isn't the best thing for me, but oh well. Sometimes it just happens. It makes me terribly sad. Things have changed so much but I just can't find the significance of it all. I know it's there, but in the past year so little has changed, except me. The things that did happen, feel surreal. But maybe thats just a way to deal. Ah who knows.

I'm getting really frustrated with everything. I've been kind of a grump lately, but I try not to show it too much.

There are just times that I feel totally invisible. I don't understand it. It's like one second it's all there and everything is good, and then it's like you aren't even there. I mean, I can deal with it, and I do. I've gotten to the point these days where I'm pretty strong and things don't upset me like they used to, but it still bothers me. It always bothers me.

And I know I already talked about it, but I'm really worried my birthday is going to suck. I mean, I thought about it today and this year I really want it to be better than the last two. I mean, on my 16th birthday I found out Connor liked Taryn again and I spent the whole day pretty much just being sad. And then my 17th I went to a church dance, which was even worse. The dance was terrible and the night ended with Emma and Sarah both being super sad. I got some cute clothes though, so that was a plus.

But I really want this one to not suck. And if we go to the concert, I don't think it will. But still, I don't know if it we'll actually be able to go. Just turning eighteen in general will kind of stink in its own way.

And I guess to be honest, lately I've just been jealous. I've tried so hard not to be, but I am. Emma fell in love with this amazing guy this year and he loves her and she gets that whole amazing experience, and she's just such a great person. And Sarah, everyone loves Sarah. I mean, she is just infectious and makes people fall in love with her. Guys fall all over her. And it's hard for me to watch. I am so proud of her and the fact that she is so great and loveable is part of why she's my best friend, but I can't help but feeling like I'm second rate. It's not that I think badly of myself, but everyone wants to be wanted. And I want that. I want to just feel like someone I want, wants me back. I want to feel at home. I know it's so angsty teenager, but I want that boy. I want one who wants to know, and wants to listen, that I don't have to watch what I say around. I want one who appreciates me and who cares. And if I can't have those things yet, thats okay. But I wish that I had a sign that it was possible. It just seems so farfetched right now.

And I miss talking to one of my friends. A lot. I wish I could call him up now to talk. And I hate that I can't. I hate that everyone around me can go to him about their problems and get a hug and nice words, but that he's the one person that can't be there for me anymore. It sucks you know =/ sometimes it just really, really sucks. Because sometimes he's the one person I need.

Anyways, now that I've gotten all that out, I'd better go. The quote is With Me by Sum 41.

"Thoughts read unspoken, forever in doubt,
Pieces of memories fall to the ground."

Everlasting Friend

So, I feel like a lot has happened in the past month and a half, and I've been majorly slacking with my entries. Hopefully I'll get a little better. I know that I'm going to forget half of what I wanted to say.

Tonight I started writing again. I'm close to 13,000 words now, and no one has read any of it. I wish that I could find someone to. Someone that would actually be honest. And someone I could trust with my words. I really like the story, but then again, I'm kind of attached to it.

Anyways, I'm going to school in the fall and I'm scared out of my mind. Why are big changes like this the things that I want and yet I'm most terrified of them? I guess I just feel like I'm walking into unknown territory. Sure, things around here aren't really great, but at least I know how to handle it. Sucky Harrisburg is something that I'm used to, I can deal with it. New and exciting WCU, on the other hand, is terrifying. Also, all the school work I have left is sending me into major stressing.

I am so very glad I'm leaving though, in spite of my fears, there's nothing left here for me except my family.

Lately I've been kind of down on myself. I acted in a way that I'm not proud of. I showed a side of me to someone that I should have kept to myself, I want to be good and be an example. I'm a little ashamed. I should be helping and encouraging, not adapting to be what's wanted. Even the good guys want girls to be a certain way, and I don't want to be that. I want to be good. I want to influence others to be good.

I feel a little distant from everyone these days, even with both Emma and Sarah being around more often. I guess it's part of growing up. Things change. It makes me sad though, I wish I could change it.

And lately I've been really anxious to have a conversation with one of my friends that I should have had at the beginning of the summer. It needs to be said. I want to prove to myself that I can be brave. And I'm going to. I already know that things won't turn out good, but it needs to be done.

I know I'm not being very eloquent, but it's almost four in the morning and I can't really think straight. I knew though that if I didn't post something now, I wouldn't later.

Also, my birthday is less than a month away. It makes me a little sad. I was going to do something for it, but I think I've changed my mind. I think Emma, Sarah, and I are going to go to a concert, and I'll see how many people actually notice that it's my bday. I know, self-pity. But I'm allowed a little, right? It's just that after my past two birthdays (esp the last one haha), I don't really have high hopes for this year. We'll see.

So, last thing, I went to my dad(the one in texas)'s house for this first time in three years. I would write a lot about it, but I'm about to fall asleep. But I'll just say that I wish I'd done it a while ago. Ah, then again, I might not have been ready then. Anyways, seeing Kenzi and Riley was great, and so was seeing my dad and Sandi. I want to be so much closer to all of them, it seems so impossible though. If I can hardly keep close with the people around here, how am I supposed to manage it with them being in Texas? And it's tough to have two families that you feel responsible to. But I do have two. And that's what counts, do I'll just have to deal. It's weird though. It's all weird.

Alright, I know I'm not making any sense so I'm going to just close with a quote from Tiny Vessels- Death Cab For Cutie.

"And we'll pretend that it meant something so much more. But it was vile, and it was cheap."

Cross Me Off Your List

Well, I'm blogging sooner than I thought I would be. But I guess I've got more stuff to ramble on about.

So, last night Olivia went to church with us. And it was so odd, but I got really jealous; it took me a while to figure out why, but then it hit me. I didn't really care (that much, haha) that she was flirting with all the guys, or even that she was wearing my clothes while she did it. But what it truly, honestly, was, was that Olivia, in one night, managed to feel more at home at my church, than I've felt in almost a year.

I just feel like something old and used up that no one cares about anymore, I'm just old news- something to be overlooked. I don't remember what it feels like anymore to have real friends there, and to feel like someone actually wants me around, instead of just tolerating me being around. And that's where I get to the idea of wanting to change, like I talked about in my last post.

And most of all, I hate that I care so much about this. I hate that it messes me up just thinking about how I don't feel like I belong there anymore. And I know that I've talked about this before, but I can't get it out of my head. Every time I'm there I just feel like a stranger. I feel like no one likes me, or they just don't care enough to go either way.

I don't know what happened, which is one of the hardest parts of it. It's just like, one day everything was great, and then suddenly, it was all gone. And now it's so hard to go to church. I know that's terrible to say, because I really don't want people to affect my attendance, but it doesn't make it any easier. I guess I'm just lonely. Not depressed or anything, just lonely. And worried.

I don't know, I'm such a whiner. A whiner with no friends.

You know, it's weird. I typed "haha" at the end of that last sentence and then thought better of it. And I do it a lot. I type haha and act like it's funny, when, in all reality, it isn't at all. I've been doing it for ages, and it needs to stop.

Anyway, tomorrow is the last day of seminary, which is kind of bittersweet. Just like graduation. I had some pretty great times in seminary. None of which happened this year, but the past three years were a lot of fun. It just makes me sad that it's over, and ending this way too.

I just hold tight to the hope that I'll find someone I love, that loves me for me. Because I can't be a Sarah, or an Emma, or an Olivia, or an Ali. I can only be Tori. And I just worry that it won't ever be enough for someone.

Okay, before this pity party gets any worse, I'm going to end. Quote is from Rest In Pieces- Saliva

"Look at me, my depth perception must be off again, cause this hurts deeper than I thought it did- it has not healed with time- it just shot down my spine. Would you find it in your heart to make this go away and let me rest in pieces?"

Be Be Your Love

So I wasn't going to post any more on this blog. At all. But to be honest, I'm very attached to it now that I've been writing in it for over a year. I came back to it the first time today because I feel like I really need someone to talk to and it's almost 3am and I wouldn't know who to go to. And if you haven't guessed already, I'm one of those people who have to get out what they're feeling. I don't often ask for advice, most times I just want to talk and get a hug. I guess I'll have to get a raincheck on the hug considering that, as far as I know, blogs cannot help with that haha.

Anyway,its been quite a while since I've posted. But I didn't blog any June last year, so I guess it will have to have been April this year.

It seems like a lot has happened and at the same time not anything at all.

I got accepted into WCU which is really exciting of course, I can't wait to get out of Charlotte and meet new people and just get away. It'll be a good thing.

But at the same time, I'm scared out of my mind. I feel like a stranger to my friends. I mean, I've always been bad at keeping in touch with the people who aren't really close to me, but lately it seems like I'm not close to anyone anymore. I feel really alone sometimes. It's probably just part of human nature to feel that way, but right now I feel like the people around me are strangers.

And then I worry that maybe they didn't change, maybe it was me. Or maybe both. No one can really know I guess.

I mean, but it's not like I'm never happy. I am quite a bit. But it's just never that lightness anymore like I used to be able to feel. I always feel like there is just some kind of hollowness now, and I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm crumbling and I don't know how to ask for help.

It's just that there's so much that's been going on with my family and they're so preoccupied with all these different dynamics, that I feel like I can't say anything. There's just so much on everyone right now, and I hate feeling weak. I've been the weak, emotional one my entire life, and I'm tired of playing that part.

I'm scared about college too. I'm scared about not being able to be the person Sarah wants me to be. I'm scared that I'll either go crazy, or that I will want to rebel. But not rebel against my parents or anything like that, or the church. But against the people that I feel like don't care about me anymore. Just to show them that they took me for granted, or to destroy the person they liked. I don't know. That part always scares me. And after race weekend, I worry that it will happen.

I think that the reason why I feel so disconnected from everyone though, is because it seems like everyone I love is changing and moving on and growing up, and I think I'm bitter because I feel like I'm still stuck in neutral and I don't know how to get out of it. Which is always why I'm scared that I'll get to the point where I'm willing to do anything to get out of it.

And I don't like my job. And I have 4 courses to finish over the Summer because I thought that time was going to slow down for me.

And I'm going to stop before I go into full pity-party mode. Yet again, I just needed a way to talk/complain.

I'm just scared out of my mind. And I hold in all of this crap and then I just explode. Like Wednesday, I was a wreck. Ali came to talk to me, and she asked if I was alright, and I just broke down and started bawling. I mean, I sucked it up right after and made a joke and went back in and brushed it off like a joke.

But it's really hard being at church now. Really, really hard. I won't go into what all has happened on the off-chance that people still have my blog link, because I'm not going to start spreading business that isn't just mine. I'm just really missing someone though that I shouldn't be missing. And it sounds psychotic even to me, but it's true. And lying about it, would be refusing something that is undeniably a part of who I am. And I need them now more than ever ever before. And I want them to be there. And I worry about them. But there isn't anything I can do about it.

I did everything I could do, and I'm hated because of it. So all I can do now is hope, or not hope, or do whatever I have to in order to keep going.

I can't ever do anything right. Ever.

It sucks. It just really, really, really sucks. Articulate, I know.

I'm just in a complaining, melancholy mood though. That hug really would be nice right about now.

Well, I'm sure I had more to talk about, but I'm getting extremely tired.

Anyway, today's quote is from "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" by The Script. (Very tender song and video)

"There are no holes in his shoes, but a big hole in his world.."