The Girl Who Looks Sad

2

Most days she's happy. But on some days, some days she gets sad. Sometimes it's bad right from the start. Sometimes things build up and pull her down as time flies. And on some days things will go great, but a black cloud decides to clap and soon a storm has swallowed up the sun.

There are lots of ways to grow sad. And today, it seems, wants to drag her down.

It doesn't start off bad. Sure, a small hiccup occurs, but nothing too upsetting. The day is full of those: little hiccups, interspersed with moments of smiles and laughter and friends. But maybe the girl is sensitive today. Things like this are usually dust chips swept right off her shoulders. Why do they feel like shoulderpads today?

School crawls on and now thank god she's out.

"Why can't this Monday just end."

"GGH."

"Why can't anything fricking go RIGHT today?!"

Venting. Online, even. But who else is there to hear her? No one. Her family is all the places they need to be. The girl herself is in a public library. The public won't care if she cries. They won't pity if she feels overwhelmed by work.

Besides, she doesn't want their pity.

She's blinking back tears. No, she can't be sad. At least, she can't cry. It's just school. She's just frustrated. Why are you crying over getting frustrated over homework? Pull yourself together! She keeps blinking and half-manages to pull on the mask of calm.

A break. Maybe she needs a break. The girl has been working for hours now. She can manage five minutes. She's checking the activity feed in her blog when she sees the message: What's up, Chuck? A friend.

"Little things that just piled on. I'm probably overreacting."

Don't worry, dear. I know how you feel. Nothing's too silly to fret over. You can vent to me all you want.

And even though those words are usually empty-feeling, somehow they're comforting this time around. "Thank you, Squirrel. I might have to take you up on that offer."

The reply is quick. I...got a nickname? I've never had one before! YOU just made me very happy. And I will always be here.

And it takes a second to register what's happening. She's smiling. The girl is smiling once more. It's amazing to her at how the words of a friend, a strange friend, can mean so much.

"Thank you for making me smile again today."

Well, now we've both made each other smile.

The stranger does not know how much she's helped. And she may not know. But the girl will be grateful. Grateful for helping her through this night. Grateful to know that someone was concerned. The girl is feeling much better now. Her stormcloud soul is still churning tonight, but the thunder and the lightning have passed. Now it's the rain's turn; pour out the sadness until it runs out and the sun can return. And when the sun returns, she can be known as the Girl Who Smiles once again.

Sometimes the little things bear weight. Some days the little weight is enough to drag her down. And sometimes the girl wants to cry, to pull off the suffocating storm and to shine once again. That doesn't mean she can do it alone. Sometimes it takes the special people to blow away the worst things.

Thank you for not letting this day end sad. Thank you for being there when she needed it. God knows the girl needs all the help she can get.

Thank you, Squirrel.

Thank you.