A path of distinction

When the world was its darkest
You held on with strength
All the works you left behind you
Were a means to an end
In the darkness you shine brightest
In the light you are the most dim
For your companions you're lighting
The paths, but what then?
What's next in the world for you
What does the universe hold
For a dreamer such as yourself
Who's barely a couple dozen years old
You walk a path of distinction
On the brink of extinction
You try and try to maintain a grasp
On reality
Yet your soul fights harder
The disparity
The choices you've made
The isolation you live in
The lies you have told
Your refusal to give in
They all indicate
Something larger at play
You're not just being defensive
You're building today
In the past you were
A shining bright light
Now only in pure darkness
Are you like that again
When no one is looking
When no one dares glance
You transform into an image
Of shattered glass
You walk a path of distinction
On the brink of extinction
Your essence is the purest form
Of offering for your past
Atoning for your mistakes
Making up for your errors
Apologizing for the sake
Of maintaining your terror
Within you and imprisoning
It and not releasing
Holding as tight as possible
To maintain a grasp every evening
Each night you go to sleep
You shine brightest
Shed all of the lies
That grip you the tightest
You are a shining light
So please shine in view
Let the world use you for guidance
Let them see through you
If you were to be a torch
You'd never die or burn out
If you were to be reborn
Who knows how you'd turn out
All I know is this truth
My dear, I love you
No matter how much you choose
To hate the world
And hate yourself, too
You walk a path of distinction
On the brink of extinction
But I will make sure, my dear
That you survive