It would be a long journey across the cold High Plains to find my way home in western Kansas. I knew it would require mental fortitude to even brave the storms, much less face the beating cold and howling demons. But, I knew what was waiting for me. And I was ready to brave the storm.

My journey started by climbing a hill. One of steep length and smooth, snowy terrain. Every step, my feet would slip a bit, and I'd cling to that damn hill as though it were my own insanity. I'd look down and see how far I'd already come, and question if I could make it any further. The thought of falling back into the snow made me shiver.

My small, blue coat was the only thing that warmed me on those hills. With every step, it embraced me. It comforted me. It told me I could. It was the only thing I could hear in that coat.

It took me a few weeks, but I finally slid up that hill. I was shaking. But somehow, I felt more powerful than I ever had before. Overjoyed, I had wrapped myself in my own lovely coat and finally proclaimed "I love who I am!" for the first time in my life. I ventured forth, but the storm seemed a bit less bad.

Then came the plains. Such long stretches of walking, and walking, and walking. For a while, I could almost feel time warp in on itself. I could think it were 6pm and 3am at the same time. Time didn't matter much though. What mattered was me, and my coat keeping me warm in the winter storms. Hollering winds would blow us around, but we'd only let them pass and shrug it off. Owls would stare us down. Wolves would growl from the trees. But with my coat, I knew that I'd be protected always. I knew that I'd be strong. I knew that if I could face a wolf, I would beat it. I knew I'd win. I knew I'd be okay after all that I was subjected to.

We arrive close, my coat and I. Kneeling in the snow, I make this solemn vow.

"Small blue coat of mine, please warm my spirits. I need your strength when I fight the monsters up ahead. They're a sneaky bunch. They'll stab us in the heart, for sure. I need you to protect my heart. Please, protect me."

It's now that I stand before it. My unending nightmare. I gaze upon it first like a sheep, seeing it as a house. Then I gaze upon it as a wolf, and see my wolf parents inside.

I make sure my coat is zipped. I march forth.