Starlight, Starbright 

Can I tell you a secret? You don’t have to be in a relationship.    I mean it. I know they force it down your throat until you choke on it. Girls aren’t pretty unless they’re wanted. Boys aren’t men unless they’re having sex with someone. People aren’t lovable until they’re dating someone.    But a relationship won’t always make you happy, and as wonderful as romance is, it isn’t the only love that exists. I have seen friendships that are deeper and more pure than couples who swear it’s forever - and yet the friendship is the one people ignore.    I have heard so often “nobody loves me” out of the mouths of people who are single. And it kills me because if you ask them: where are your parents, your teachers, your classmates, your pets - they say, yes, okay, but it doesn’t count. Of course it counts, love doesn’t diminish just because someone doesn’t want to have sex with you. In fact, doesn’t it sort of make that love more real that they want nothing - not even a date - out of you?   It is pretty to be in love. It’s magical, I’m sure. But it’s also wonderful to stop for ice cream in your prom dress with six other girls. It’s also wonderful to go visit the world with nothing but a bunch of buddies who are really excited about learning.    The problem is: we’ve made everything about “the one”. But maybe “the one” is just you, loving yourself, having fun, and being happy. Maybe instead of looking for our other halves, we should be piecing ourselves together.   Maybe I wasn’t born unfinished. Maybe I am the one who makes myself better.

The sun will rise and set regardless. What we choose to do with the light while it’s here is up to us. Journey wisely.

He could never have her. He looked at her from where he was standing and spoke aloud: ‘Only stars could come from eyes like those.’ He looked at the floor and spoke again: ‘But her heart weeps; for those eyes have lost uncountable stars over venomous people.’ He breathed. He walked away.

She’s the mystery girl. You never know who she’s going to be - today, tomorrow, or in any given moment. But she certainly won’t be the person you knew yesterday. When she smiles and shows her teeth, she looks like the happiest girl in the world, glowing, beautiful and radiant, without a single care. But her depression becomes Jo deep and frightening. Her sadness is terrible and very difficult to experience. My love for her in those intense moments is indescribable. In those sad times, I just hold her and let her cry, until she’s gotten it out of her system, which can take a very long time. She’s dark, there’s no doubt about it, but she can hide it well and “seem” like a normal person, although that’s definitely not a word I would use to describe her. I say it respectfully and sincerely - she’s definitely not normal. You have to be gentle with her. You don’t want to hurt her, which is easy to do. But you have to protect yourself, too - lest you be hurt BY her…because she knows exactly what to do and how to do it, even though she wouldn’t do it intentionally. But if it’s warranted, you’ll pay dearly. I’m drawn to her, as if by a magnetic pull. I’m stuck to her, and with her…and glad to be.

If you’re reading this, if there’s air in your lungs on this November day, then there is still hope for you. Your story is still going. And maybe some things are true for all of us. Perhaps we all relate to pain. Perhaps we all relate to fear and loss and questions. And perhaps we all deserve to be honest, all deserve whatever help we need. Our stories are all so many things: Heavy and light. Beautiful and difficult. Hopeful and uncertain. But our stories aren’t finished yet. There is still time, for things to heal and change and grow. There is still time to be surprised. We are still going, you and I. We are stories still going.