"All your strides to be better are not enough." The subconscious spear of self-disappointment stabs at me. "You," It continues. "are not enough. You're never gonna get anywhere." It insists with crippling strength.

"Don't listen." Freckles of hope whisper in the morning light trickling onto my windowsill. "Look at all the potential in this new day."

"Come on." I think, gesturing to the darkness of my mind that still lingered like second hand smoke. "Keep fueling me. I need an adversary to rise against."