My mission was to avoid my mother's thrashing

and my father's lashing.

Home never felt safe for me,

not the way I'm being treated.

Add in my sister's taunting,

And my brother's haunting.

It's not a nice place to be. 

So I escape into the woods.

my one solid place of comfort. 

Where there's no one to blame

and I'm not called names.

 

If I'm lucky— I can see it,

something that never fails to catch my eye.

A shade of red,

which, apart from this instance, only gives me dread.

If anyone were to ask;

No, I do not like killing.

It's not very thrilling.

Humans and wolves should live harmoniously, 

not in this constant war of blood.

But who am I to talk?

They would just sit and gawk.

So I stand by and watch,

as the world falls apart.

It's all I can do nowadays.

Maybe I'll be able to speak up someday,

when I become an adult.

 

But it's not all a bore,

I get to experience more.

I use my eyes,

instead of my claws.

My heart, 

because I'm being smart. 

I guess that's how I ended up in this predicament.

Why I'm always escaping to the woods.

It's because I can see the girl I love here.

Is that weird to hear?

A wolf in love with a human.

It was weird for me too,

when my heart started thumping rapidly.

But seeing her pick flowers, skip peacefully, and hum sweetly?

It makes me forget my problems completely.

 

Maybe you know her?

You've heard her name?

They used to call her Little Red Riding Hood.

At least, back when you still could.

She's not so little anymore;

grown up and clever. 

Of course, that's how you move on

from a wolf attack gone wrong.

Have you heard of that young wolf who killed her grandma?

All of those fables?

Well all of them are true.

I know, because the young one who killed her is telling this story to you.

How could I have known better? 

I was just a young pup,

but that's no excuse.

 

Sitting under a roof with your pack

who never loves you back

would make a young one do stupid things to be accepted. 

I thought I would get redemption

or a pat on my back. 

But all I got was blood smeared

and my thoughts running around scared. 

I wish I could say sorry to her

But I chicken out. 

A real big, bad wolf... huh?

 

I never intended to fall for her.

At first, I just came here to think

and let my heart sink 

for all I've done

and for the mess I've made.

Then I noticed she walked these paths too

I thought, "Should I apologize to you?"

But with each day that passed,

I figured it would be better giving her space. 

And over the years, I've grown fond of the one

I've taken the most from.

Any chance I get,

I see her strolling along with a bouquet of flowers

to put on her grandma's grave.

The time she could save,

spending it with friends.

But instead, she makes a promise to always be there

to say a small prayer.

And the heart I have accepted

breaks for the first time that day.

Because the tears always remind me 

of who I could never be.

Who would ever love the big bad wolf?

Or at least the one I'm supposed to be according to my family.

A wolf neither accepted in his family or in Red's heart. 

But the feelings I have inside will never depart.

One day I may be happy.

Or I might die from a stake.

Either way, I will always be grateful

because she has opened up my heart... my eyes.

Her bright shade of red

Never gives me dread.