She wanted to be to others
what nobody had been to her;
She wanted to hold all of them,
every person feeling isolated, unseen, suffering in silence.
She longed to shed hope and light by sharing her story,
especially the dark parts
because that’s where she found so many others dwelling -
in the dark corners of their minds, their hearts, their faith.
She gave herself permission to shed tears,
not just for her story of pain,
but for all the countless others she hadn’t met yet and who’d never be known.
She gave herself permission to visit the dark corners and
she gave others permission, too.
She said, “Feel the pain, ride the wave, mourn your losses, grieve what once was…it’s OK.”
And then she’d hold her hand out, and wait…
wait for the others to take it,
wait for the others to feel her pulse, her warmth, her heart right there in the dark corner,
and pull them out.
Then, she’d stay with them, cry with them, be silent with them,
because she knew words were never necessary –
only the empathy of another.
And finally, after some time had passed, she said, “You can visit the dark corners. You should, in fact. Feel what you need to feel. But don’t stay there, friend. You can come back tomorrow if you need to.
But don’t stay there right now.
And you don’t have to be OK. But I’m here.”
Because what she wanted more than anything
was to be to others what nobody had been to her.