Serendipity

Ser·en·dip·i·ty [Ser-uh n-dip-i-tee] noun. The occurrence of finding something truly wonderful and beautiful without looking for it. Similar: Fate.

Serendipity Saniyah Sessoms & Jacob Velez Forever & Always Publishing

This which you possess in your hands is the story of us. Embrace it, love it, cherish it, and pass it on. For our love and the story of how we came to be can never die if it’s written in these pages.

Table of Contents The Emergence…………………………………………………..5 The Defining………………………………………………………12 The Misinterpretation..…………………………………………...19 Euphoria…………………………………………………………...25

The Emergence

When the beginning feels like the end And the end the beginning trapped in a cycle Just constantly spinning the feeling of hope becomes unfamiliar like the want and need to be here thoughts astray wondering every day when will you get a break when will you win when will you feel like Yourself again This is the emergence.

For those of whose childhood was cut short Having to grow up quickly because of a last resort I am you You are me Having hope that one day, life will be stress free

I struggled to be grown Until I became grown as a result of struggling

During my childhood I spent my time putting up walls But through adulthood I work to break them down

She carries the world on her shoulders Holding you tight Shielding you from the ones who turned their backs Casting stones Gracefully filling both roles Society screamed you needed Ridiculed, tired, desperate but strong She nurtured and loved you all along -A single mother

“5 more minutes of pain for a lifetime of happiness” my mom would say but the minutes turned to hours and the hours to days Days to months Months to years 5 more I would say with no end in sight

The Defining

As I close my eyes at night I can see nothing but These memories crashing in my head like an ocean during a storm I wonder if you're still here or watching over me in another motion or form These thoughts of mine bring nothing but regret Wishing for one last conversation

How can I love myself When everything about me is controlled by others -A young black girl

When she looks at me I can see the fire in her eyes Wondering what I did wrong as the time flies I finally understand why I am an issue to her by doing nothing I am a reflection of him

Once I got the news the last bit of innocence in me died From that day on I was scared to get close to anyone Scared they would leave me just like you No one knows how I miss you so much If only you K N E W

Day to day I struggle thinking about the Dear future self, Whoever you may experiences that have happened in my be. I am proud of you. You have life. Wondering who I am and the overcome the odds and defeated person I will be. Wondering if all of the family cycles. You have more in you people in my life who doubt me will be than you think. Keep going and show right. I fight everyday to overcome the world who you are and never let these demons on mine and I will never anyone silence you. Never let anyone let up. I taught myself how to be a beat you down anymore. I love you man, I taught myself to confront any even though it may be hard to see issue face to face. Through all of this I that. One day you will be where you still have yet to learn who I am, to see want to be, far far away from all the what I will become. People speak drama and issues. You will be happy. down on me so much I start to believe You have to believe. You have to it. I will no longer let this happen. grow. - A Letter From The Past

Seeing you as a role model while doing all the wrong things lead me to believe that was okay I wanted to be just like you After years I recognize that was a gift and a curse Your actions taught me to become a man on my own I needed you but I wouldn't show it I needed you but you didn't know it Yet I was only 12

The Misinterpretation

Is this love? Screaming until you can’t hear each other Is this love? Forcing your feelings through your hands Is this love? Choosing to be anywhere but here Is this love? Sacrificing happiness for a title This must be love.

How do I tell you that you’ve lost me Sad thing is you still treat me like that clueless Not physically but emotionally. little girl That feeling I had as a little girl just hearing your But I have matured name I am smart The excitement, the love, the sensation of safety is I now know what I deserve gone. Someone who.. How do I tell you I no longer look up to you but puts his family before himself. hope I never fall in love with someone like you. treats my mom with care No matter how hard I try spends time with his children. To be that little girl who loved and admired you is a role model The little girl who believed you could do no wrong doesn’t use his words to harm I can’t. teaches his children the true definition of You WERE my hero love my protector This...This is not love I pray to be that little girl again You no longer sit near me To have that emotional connection Embrace me But it’s gone. Look at me like your own I used to love hearing your voice You speak negativity into my life Now I only hear it when it's raised. Blame me for the destruction you cause I am scared of it now. You blame me for not being that clueless little I no longer feel safe in the comfort of your arms girl anymore You’re here but you’re not. Even though you were the one who stripped me Is this what you want for me? of my innocence. -A letter to My Dad

Love was shown to me in an ongoing war The sounds of screams and yells keeping me up at night wishing for it to stop I never knew that love was filled with so much hate I believed this to the point of losing hope

I was taught that love was pain I was taught that love was nothing more than a word Seeing them struggle and fight had an everlasting meaning for the word love

Society showed me never to show emotion Society showed me love was weakness Society showed me as a young man that I cannot be anything but what it says to be or I do not fit the requirements of being a man Society destroys the minds of young men Society is wrong Love is right

Euphoria

Our Love is Poetry What is love? Love is thinking with your heart feeling with your soul Love is knowing you have become whole Love is giving without gain Love is feeling someone else’s pain Love is wanting someone needing them Love is being their support system Love is when being together is enough Love is staying even when times get rough Love is caring love is kind They say love is hard to find Its because this love is already yours and mine This is love.

With her I feel at home With her all my worries disappear She is my solitude She is my safe place She is my love

What I feel for you is real With you I can be myself No judgement But love and want You love me despite my flaws I’ve wanted you and this For so long now

Loving you Is the best part of my life. At times when I’ve felt hopeless Felt like nothing You've showed me my worth Picked me right back up And told me i'm worth it You've been my strength My shoulder to cry on My light at the end of the tunnel. You’re the reason I believe in a better tomorrow.

When I think of my future, I think of her I think of her grocery shopping with me I think of her waking up next to me I think of her watching TV with me without saying a word and feeling content I think of her through every ordinary event I want her through it all not just through the excitement

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story. I hope you experienced the same feelings as we did writing this. Much love, The authors.

Serendipity is a poetry book about two souls who grew up with a misconception of love. All hope was lost...until they unexpectedly found each other.