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Sympathy

She was seven years old when she became a pessimist, life handed her death before she could even make sense of it. Pure and innocent, all of the cards, pities, and therapy couldn’t cure what she had been given. She watched her brother fall to pieces and couldn’t seem to find a reason why life would turn out this way. She couldn’t seem to find an explanation as to why her mother couldn’t just stay.

Sad and confused, she knew that the other kids might never understand what she had gone through. Because six feet under the ground she stood on lies the woman she once called mom. She lived an adolescence of not hearing the other side. Her father gave up his career just so he could raise her. Although he paid for her to attend therapy, she would go in and act like nothing had ever phased her. But she was scared, afraid of becoming impaired, alone, desensitized or numb. For she was far too young to loose her faith. Because all of these books about heaven reassured her that mommy would be waiting at the gates.

All through second grade and third people made fun of her because she used to try to put a bow in her hair and dress herself but couldn’t quite get it right. No one understood how hard it is to tie a bow in your hair without someone to hold your ponytail tight. Eventually she stopped trying but no one seemed to care about that missing bow that used to always be in her hair. Only she was worried about what she was called or how people treated her. She would go home to her Dad and cry, and then he would read to her. A story called “pumpkin soup” about a squirrel, a cat, and a duck who all worked together to make their dinner. But the duck felt left out and that his options were getting thinner. So he packed up his things and left, but found himself in an empty forest cold and lonely. She related to this fictional duck who felt the heft of a lonely soul. All that duck needed was some sympathy

She did not know how to fix it She did not know what she was searching for She didn’t understand that acceptance might help Because in order to accept you have to know the concept of what you are dealing with. Death is confusing, but she could sure as hell tell you that life is a gift even through all of the tragedy you are bound to put up with.

Middle school was difficult but she found her way through without becoming too visible. skating by in school, not living up to her true potential. All she was concerned with was earning those credentials. Not planning for her future or looking forward to tomorrow, she lost her ambition and her life started to feel like fiction. A scary movie where life was the bad guy, she told her dad how empty she felt. After all there was no use to tell lies. She was scared. She felt lost in grade ten because no one seemed to get it. By age fifteen she had been given as much pain as life would let in. Broken. A word that only began to describe how she felt. The depression would set in and her consciousness started to melt, she was done. She hadn’t exercised the word fun in a while. However in public she continued to smile But she felt miles away from where she actually was. She went home everyday that week and bled the blues. But all that pain and those scars will never prove to her how strong she is. Instead they only seem to remind her of how wrong she is for believing the sky isn’t the limit. For believing that she could succeed despite every time she would knock herself down until she would bleed. All she needed was for someone to believe She now knew what she was searching for, kindness, compassion and someone who could understand That sometimes all she needed was a helping hand And she’s still here, standing in front of you today, and she’s not the only one who grew up this way.

This girl is me, and all I am asking from you is an ounce of your sympathy.

You may not have known this about me, this is why I wish for you to always have sympathy For the people you don’t know and people you do, because people go through rough times and you could’ve thought “who knew?”

Everyday kids give up on life; end it for good with the edge of a sharpened knife. I am glad I am not one of them, because life is worth living It’s the universe’s most precious gem that keeps on giving

So let people know that they are worth your time. Let them know that the stars shine, and they shine for us. Give someone your compassion and not only during a timely fashion but because you can. Don’t wait until they give up and all you have left to hold onto is the things you could’ve said So show them now. Show them that you care because sometimes all someone needs to know is that you are there. Sympathy by definition is agreement with or support for an opinion or position So help make someone braver, let them know you understand Just listen.

In an America I want to live in, people won’t give in. Instead they will receive sympathy and help. But not because they are hopeless, but because they deserve it. Show someone that you are concerned, let them know that they are far from a burden. Tell them be strong, because all of the people who told you to give up were wrong. Just as wrong as you were for believing that you could possibly be inadequate, because you are perfect. A phenomenal creation. So live your life to the fullest and take advantage of what you can, listen to others and intend to understand. In the America where I want to be, people will offer others their sympathy.