Nobody said it was going to be easy.

These days things are hard, not that they haven't been hard in the past; or maybe we're just making things harder than they have to be? They can drive you crazy. They stress you out, and when stressed, who is really ever rational. We say things we don't mean. Hard times happen to everybody and to every relationship. But don't give ever give up; not on yourself and, most definitely, not to who matters to you.

You had your first big fight, or maybe your 5th or maybe even your 20th. You storm out of the house to cool down, meanwhile she's laying in bed with a broken heart; wondering if you'll ever come back, or if this really was the last straw. "I've had enough of this bull shit," you yell before you walk out.

You head all alone to the neon lights. Ask the bartender for the good stuff and he pushes over a double shot of Jack. All you can think about is how did you get into this mess again. It's always the little things that cause this madness. The bartender asks you whats on your mind, "We've been trying to make it work..but this might be it this time. These times are hard," you respond. She needs you now. She wants you now. She needs to know you still want her. But you can't find the time to tell her that everything is going to be okay.

Work is consuming her life and you're searching for a job. Out all day doing your best. Both of you are putting in so much effort, or so you thought. How did you ever get into this mess; its like the ultimate test? You see her pray for change every night before she falls asleep, a single tear running down her cheek.

She's always upbeat, tells you everything you need to hear and keeps you in line. She watches your back and only wants the best for you, and for "you" as a couple. You feel as if you lost it all, asking God for help cause you're doing your best. She's right there to reassure you, "I know you're hurt, but we can make this work. We are going to make this work."

You smile back, but you're so close to tears. For the first time you realize you're not ready to give up; not yet. Not on her, and not on yourself. Is it really so hard for you to tell her you not only need her, but you want her? That's all she needs to hear, and that's all you needed to make things right again; for you and for her.

It doesn't always come easy. It's going to take a lot of effort. It's going to hurt and you're will have to make sacrifices. But if it's what you want and what you need you will find a way to push your pride aside and realize what is truly important. You need her as badly as she needs you. You're not the same with out each other, or when you fight. You look back and remember the old times, when you first met, how you first met, and how happy you were when she said she'd be your girl. Hold on to that, hold on to that feeling.

They never stop to think; "Whats in it for me" or "Its way too far". They just show on up with a big old heart.

We care about them the most, and we hit them the hardest. We take everything they do for granted, never saying please or thank you. We just expect them to be there for us. How is it that we hurt the ones who mean the world to us the most, the people we can't live without and the people we never want to live without.

Not everybody does this habitually, in fact i hope nobody does this habitually. But there are times when everybody takes the people who are most important in life for granted.

Our family and friends see the worst of us; mood swings, crabby morning, judgemental thoughts and stubbornness, yet they still love us. Ever hear the quote by Marilyn Monroe, "I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." This to me, represents the way our families and good friends support us. They've seen the worst and stick around, while our not so good "friends" try and avoid the drama..ever notice how they're the last ones there when you need a shoulder?

If somebody can't be with you when it rains, then they do not deserve to be with you when the sun is shining. Each and every person is unique, beautiful and wonderful in their own way. We all have little quirks that make us different, and talents that make us extraordinary. People who can not be with you through thick and thin don't deserve your time. And the same goes for us, if somebody isn't worth YOUR time when they are down and broken, then don't be artificial and be their best friend when all goes well. Don't be fake, just be you.

Why do we burden the ones we love like that? We lack patients with them, yet give it to our "friends". I believe it is because we know that they truly love us, therefore if they are upset with us they will never leave, stray or abandon us. While we are unintentionally hurting those we love, we are busy doing what?.. trying to gain acceptance from our "friends".  Now-a-days it seems like people worry too much about being accepted by the masses. As long as you have family and one or two good friends and maybe a significant other, what else do you need. According to me, that makes a person rich. No, not rich in means of net wealth, but rich in means of what is important in life, rich in means of memories, experiences and of course plenty of love. After all, all you need is love.

What kind of man lays his hand on a woman?

He lays his hands on the woman he loves and calls her "angel" and "baby" yet shows no remorse or guilt as she lays in a puddle of her own blood. Her body is covered in bruises and scars; she tells family and friends she "tripped down the stairs". She feels less beautiful with each day that passes, but she is sometimes beautiful enough to him, if she does everything just right. He has trained her to believe she can't do better so she stays.

She thought it would only happen that once so she sticks around. But each and every time after he's done with her beating he'll wipe the sweat from his brow and yell over her broken cries. He screams "You don'  know how hard I've had it, you don't know what I've been through." He yells and says "You don't know what I've done for you." Then he hits her again. With each beating not only does he break her bones, but her heart a little more every time.

He can't even look her in they eyes, then minutes later he acts like nothing ever happened. She prays it will end, but it never does. Her cries don't phase him anymore. If she ever gets enough courage to leave will she trust again? Instead she'll be left with the ghost of her grim past with every step she takes. It will be so hard to let those walls down, does she even want to try.

She stands in the mirror and her reflection looks lifeless. Lifting up her shirt she sees his finger prints branded all over her body. She feels its all, but she doesn't cry anymore. The shades of blue that cover her face hide the smile that he used to give her instead.

You are too beautiful and your heart wants something more. Don't you dare settle for this cause somewhere out there is somebody who WILL treat you better. The second you settle for a guy like this it will become harder to realize that you deserve better, everybody deserves better than a life like this.

I Don't Want This Night To End

You don't know them, but something about them is pulling you in. You're intrigued and they captured your attention the second they entered the room. You can't concentrate on anything else, and your heart all but stops when your eyes connect. The crazy thing about it is you don't know how or why they've captured your attention, but now they've got it and you know there is no turning back.

Suddenly your heart beat begins to race as they walk in your direction, and stops dead when they engage in conversation with you. What are they talking about, the hell if you know, you're too caught up in their eyes. You talk and laugh as if you go way back although you've only just met.

Everybody else in the room seems to disappear. And before long everybody else did. You don't know them from Adam, but for some reason you trust them, you know they won't hurt you. You talk about everything and anything, because tonight they are your everything. You've let your guard down, the walls are no longer up but you know they don't need to be up either.

What seemed like 5 minutes turns our to be hours, and next thing you know its 3 in the morning. It's late and you both should probably start heading home, but now you'd feel so completely lost you don't even know where you are or where you've been. You do know one thing though, you don't want this night to be over. You know it won't be the same tomorrow. You never want to leave this moment.