You: You are nuzzled, comfortable but constrained, In a shell. Take a deep breath and brace yourself, then Give a good kick... Crack!
Or better yet, wait. Bide your time. Enjoy the comfort while you can. Here comes "Buddy" with the nutcracker. Take a deep breath and brace yourself. Crack! We're glad to see you step out.
Me: I am The shell. The barrier to a mystery, The palace guard, The safe, The piece of art -- a Picasso -- Behind which hides a fortress, a museum, a story. I am the shell -- Strong and protective -- An army, a vault door; I don't know the combination.
You know. I broke your shell, but you didn't break Me.
You: The key that didn't fit, The wrong combination. Me: I am the shell.
You know. You walked up to the Picasso: "Tell me your story. And hear mine."
You: The nutcracker, The wrecker ball, You had seen the inside of a shell. You had the passion to reach for me But not the strength to crack me.
Not me: The army, The vault door, The shell.
You: You were nuzzled, comfortable but constrained, In a shell. Take a deep breath and brace yourself. Crack!
But me: I am the shell. If you crack me you weaken me. If you break me, you beat me. I most protect my fortress because it gives me sanctuary. I must protect my stories because they're all I have. And so I do.
I am the shell.
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