Real happiness

From past friends

or mild acquaintances

there will be times where I am not only acknowledged

but appreciated

it makes me happy

makes me content

makes me feel more comfortable around people who I've grown up with

my non-related "siblings"

when they make me feel like I can be appreciated

when I can be seen

when I'm not invisible

unseen

when I can be a solid human being

when my classmates who aren't my friends talk to me

that is what real happiness is for me

when I'm treated like a classmate and not a stranger

when I'm appreciated

when I can have fun and be myself around other people

not worry too much about what people think

that's real happiness

it's a rare thing

it comes in small doses

small interactions

it's not a myth

it's real

I'm real.