Remedy

Step.

The school bus groans and the seat-belts dangle behind the students seats. As the bus-driver whistles a tone to himself, she takes out the ear-phones from her i-pod and looks away to the window. 

"I can't believe this!" Tears drop out of her eyes as she shakes her head. 

"What is it?" Penelope looks at her with concern. 

"It's like a curse. Every emotion I feel is felt deeply. I am like an emotional roller coaster, I can't keep myself straight."

"Hey, there is nothing wrong to feel, it's a part of being human," she strokes her hair.

"Penelope, there are children in Syria who has to sleep with the noise of bombs! BOMBS! However, they are grateful, and making the best with what they have. They know the true meaning of life, which is each other, because of the massacre they go through." she glares at her and waits, hoping for some kind of word that would bring a broken vase to come back together. 

"Oh my gosh, Tina. Just because you're upset doesn't mean you're ungrateful! You're just a human being, you can't force yourself to smile all the time, though yeah it's worth it to push through, but you always do so. But letting out your emotions and allowing me reassure you for once makes me feel like a good friend, so let me explain, okay? How would you know if the pain others feel isn't as similar to any of ours? Pain is pain despite different reasons, it's felt the same way. Happiness is happiness despite different reasons, it is the feeling of contentment with what we have in our lives regardless how small! You know what? Their meaning of joy and ours is no different from one another.  Psh, yeah, you don't have their life, and you are stressing out about some kind of problem you have not yet resolved, but how would you know whether it's because you want to help them or not? Maybe you are tired of sitting and feeling like you aren't being able to reach out, when you can, Tina, no matter how small, you can! Everyone has their own level of pressure and struggles, even if they are different experiences. Everyone's feelings matter, despite whether you are starving, homeless, or just lost someone in your life. We're all in this together, and our feelings matter. That's why there is a spiritual connection, when people volunteer and help others, they feel something for them. Get it? If we don't imagine a certain pain they're going through, how would we find the heart to help them?"

Tina opens her arms to Penelope for a warm embrace as she smiles and finishes braiding her long, brown hair. 

"I love you so much Penelope!" 

"Besides, the problems we have, yeah they matter, but I mean, look at us. We're so blessed! This is not that bad Tina, you will eventually sort it out and find something good for yourself, you got this" She says.