a small collection of short short stories

The Girl

There was a girl. As peace-loving, unproblematic, and carefree as they come. But as she grew into a woman, she changed.

She was still a kind girl, but less hopeful, less bright. A darkness had taken over her thoughts.

The world morphed her mind into a prison when her clothes were too small, or her smile too timid.

Then came the "troubled years." To the surprise of many, she never grew "emotional." That narrative had died. There was nothing left for her to get emotional over. Her clothes got big for her, her eyes grew dim, and no one realized.

"Wow! Look at her strength and drive." Because that is what is valued in the world.

People do not see the darkness of the mind when the mind is productive. They care about order and demand, not mental health.

She faded.

This is the part with a "then." "Then there was a boy." He is always there for her, supporting her, helping her grow. But there was no boy.

Or this is the part for a best friend. That one person who would know the girl better than anyone else. But her best friend only knew as much as the girl let on.

She was the epitome of balance. Sports, music, friends, school, she had it all. And yet she had nothing. At least that is what it felt like to her. People could rattle off a list of her accomplishments, but with her view of herself, and the world, they meant nothing.

However, the girl never complained. Never cried, save alone on her bathroom floor. She put up an Oscar worthy performance.

She achieved many feats, but they meant nothing. When you grow up with the thought that you are unimportant because you are young, you never reach the age of importance.

So, it was with this girl. She worked to gain respect, and it was never given.

She sought to be special to other people, and she loved feeling needed. She relished it. Everyone trusted her with their problems. They unloaded piles of emotional baggage and troubles onto her, and she took it all. 

She believed life had just weighed her down, but really it was people. People add meaning to life, but people do not make life valuable; death makes life valuable. So where does your personal worth come from?