Where Demons Tread

Dearest,

I am used to surviving by making myself scarce and flighty around strangers.

If you keep acting like one, this mode in me is getting reinforced toward you because I can’t afford to let down my guard without safety in uncertain environments.

I don’t want to treat you as a stramger.

I need you to change your behavior toward me so that we can bridge into connection.

Altered States, Society

Irony Slaps Of Repeat Attempts

When I at last had a good teacher in elementary school, my best friend was finally moved to my class after years of our asking prior teachers.

And then I got the green light that I could at last go to the Gate school – but on my own, without her.

So, I didn’t.

I chose to stay with my best friend and not leave her behind.

But I had to leave her behind, anyway, if I wanted to stay with my family.

They moved to the Bay Area before I could graduate from elementary with my best friend, just as that dream was near to our at last having.

I was then put into an elementary school biased against an innocent white girl in the tough Hispanic part of the city.

Because I did not know their lessons, I fell behind in learning as I was bullied.

Yet, somehow, I got transferred in with the Gate class at junior high (which made no sense to me, at that point), where I was always struggling to catch up, was rarely given the help that I needed, and was bullied by both the rich and lower classes because I was different from any of them.

I finally began gaining my stride, literally, when my legs at last began functioning better for running as I grew into my teens.

And by my Freshman year of high school, something shifted in me to where I was able to capitalize on everyone’s social shift when we all had to transfer – and next thing you know, I was one of the pack’s main included.

I soon made best friend’s with the most interesting girl to me at school who had built up a savage reputation for being a ‘cut throat’ that no one wanted to mess with – but who turned out to have the sweetest heart of a kitten and the most generous of souls.

She took me in the night I was beaten and needed shelter to run to.

We planned to go off to college together and support each other pursuing our dreams.

But then I was forced back to my hometown to take care of my grandmother after my grandfather died.

I wasn’t yet sixteen, so had no legal control over my life, and the adults through the school counselor threatened to get my friend in trouble with the law if I didn’t.

I eventually got to graduate high school with my first best friend, though.

This after many more destabilizing events, such as where I left another high school and was couch hopping after being predated upon by men who used to be my grandfather’s best friends.

My great aunt had also been spreading bad lies about me to my grandmother to get her to turn against me while my aunt consumed my grandmother’s resources and waddled about smack-clicking her lips, gums, and teeth (no elaboration!) wondering what was next that she could eat – so it was time for me to fly from that shakey nest, anyway.

One could think life would then stabilize after high school graduation.

I mean, that’s the promise we’re fed during years of conscripted adherence to dumbed down education through childhood, right?

Meet that goal, and you are then guaranteed an established role and acceptance into adult society.

But no, the next stages of encountering bullying – this time in employment settings – then applied.

They say self employment is uncertain with its ebbs and flows.

But I have found that life following societal rules is much more uncertain.

I obtain the most peace when I can self govern and selectively choose who I will interact with and trust to stay by my side.

Altered States, Society

Overcoming Social Bias

I remember testing high in elementary school repeatedly from early to later grades, aching to be transferred to Gate classes in a new school for learning advanced knowledge.

But when students qualified, the teachers at my school were then allowed to pick who could go – and when I asked them hopefully each time, they would frown at me and belittle my intelligence, telling me that I was clearly not as intelligent as my test scores showed because I did not do well at extroverted chalkboard performance.

This was due to shutdown from extreme social shyness in groups/public under pressure settings, which they refused to acknowledge as valid.

Between this and abuses in life at that time, it’s no wonder I have always struggled with not feeling good enough for society.

Therefore, I heartily recommend choosing one’s own life path to measurable success by innovative self employment and paid project involvements.

For me, contracting with one client or small group at a time is still proving to be my best and only reliable fallback for income generation.

When I am able to perform the skills.

A Woman's Plight

Understand Me

Why had she locked down again?

She hadn’t expected him, was caught by surprise.

Every day, she longed to see him again, thought about how she could do things different if she did see him again, tensed up to rally against her locking up.

But she knew that she might just freeze again – and she couldn’t bear to have him leave again.

No, no, no – not again, please.

“This time, just stay, walk toward me, and hold out your hand.

Knock on my door, or on my window.

Help me unthaw.

Help me bridge to our new land.”

A Man's Journey, A Return To Innocence, Songs, Where Demons Tread

“Welcome Home” (Song)

By Athena Stairs, February 1, 2026

So when you’re feelin’ all alone
Well you know where to find me

And I can tell you need a friend
So come on over talk to me

You know I’ll be the one you need
There ain’t nothin’ can stop me

I’ve got a love for you that lasts
Beyond the controversy

Welcome home

Yeah
Welcome home

You know we’ve got at last our chance
That we’ve been so long dreamin’ of

With you I wanna have this dance
More sacred than they speak of

When we look back we’re gonna laugh
How quickly we fell into love

With no regrets we’ll take our time
Worthy at last to come alive

Yeah
Welcome home

Oh my love
Welcome home

(Instrumental break)

And now you know our love is true
So come and put your heart on me

We’ve got some things we’ve gotta proove
Let’s get to writin’ destiny

And we’ve been waitin for so long
I need your arms around me

Come help me sing our victory song
It’s time we’re livin’ life so free

Yeah
Welcome home

Ah
Welcome home

Yeah
Welcome home

My love
Welcome home

You’ve got my heart
You’ve got my soul
(Welcome home)

Ain’t got to worry
We found home
((Welcome home)

And in the days
Still to come
(Welcome home)

You know you’ll be
My only one
(Yeah)

Let’s make our start
And never part
(Alright now)

We’re made for
Purest lovin’ art

(Welcome home)

And in the mornin’
And the eve
(Welcome home)

You’re gonna be
All that I need

Yeah

So welcome home

My love

Welcome home

Come on in

Welcome home

You know I love you

Welcome home

(Instrumental ramping up and goin’ wild, fading off into the sunset)

—-

(Contact me for permissions)

Listen to Welcome Home – music, lyrics pend 2.1.26.m4a by Candid Corvid Productions on #SoundCloud
https://on.soundcloud.com/9lTMMheGumlSQhPelM