In fiction I can ride a dragon with blue scales and a horned tail,
Its fingernails made of silver that is the rarest of the land.
The dragon does not breathe fire but throws up pixie glitter instead.
I have a special riding bag with magic spells and little creatures of impossible feat.
In reality I ride in my mom’s white Ford.
Yes, I have my license, but I fear driving because I could get hurt in a crash.
That may be a small possibility, but still I live in fear.
One day that could happen to me.
The car is not special.
It goes from point A to point B.

In fiction I live in a 19th-century brownstone with one thousand bookcases, ten little cats, five little dogs, and a large bed just for me.
I have a Smart Car because I care for the environment and they are so cute in the street.
My wardrobe consists of scarves, wedged boots, turtleneck sweaters, and skirts of all kinds.
In reality I live in an apartment with my family and share a bed with my little sister, who is scared to sleep alone.
I have only one bookcase, which will be out of room soon, and I have nowhere to put another one.
We don’t have pets because they cost too much money and leave hair everywhere.
Nor do I have a car, because I don’t have a job.
My closet is full, but it only has sweatshirts, jeans, socks, music T-shirts, and sneakers.

In fiction I fight for my land.
I can battle any wizard who comes my way.
I can shoot spells from a magic wand.
I have the highest agility of my kind.
In reality I fight to hold my tongue.
I battle with homework that is due tomorrow.
I can make a smartass comment like a very short comedian.
I have the shortest attention span that I have known.

In fiction I am a dragonslayer, an aspiring novelist, and a sorceress with amazing power.
In reality I am a older sister with a loving family, a teenager needing a part-time job, and a student trying to get by day by day.
Both worlds collide when I have my laptop out during class and write whatever I like.
They meet in my daydreams after taking a test.
They mash together when I read.
I could not live without fiction –
But I could go a few weeks from my reality.