I begged Imagination to be something else.

• Be hand-eye Coordination.
• Be test-taking Proficiency.
• Be Luck.
• Be Charm.
• Be Marketability.

Be not artistic, not vulnerable, not risky.

When it refused to be anything else (because it wanted to be everything)

• I tried to put it away.
• I tried tried to bury it in a box.
• I tried to drown it in alcohol.
• I tried to bore it to death.
• I tried to ignore it death.

I tried to leave it behind.

Eventually, there was nothing else left.

• I didn’t need better grades.
• I didn’t need more money.
• I didn’t need popularity.
• I didn’t need a comfort zone.
• I didn’t need approval.

And Imagination was still here waiting.