The Reflection

"If I am kind, people would be grateful to me."

- The helper

"If I am grateful to a kind person, they will be kind to me again."

- The helped

As a child I was always very sad. I would write poems, each one locking away a darkness that no one would ever want to read. I'd ride a bike along a highway everyday, and every time I was tempted to throw myself into the blurring road. How many times had I envisioned a freedom; how many times had I endured it.

For every night, I'd feel strength. The strangest sort, from someone hugging me. I don't know who nor how. Was I insane? Had I gone mad? Or just into puberty. It was so warm. Like the sunlight beaming down on a woodland of trees. It was so strong, like a waterfall rushing to quench the thirst of a marathon athlete, the one who didn't get first place, but never gave up running.

When I grew up, I left my parents as soon as I had the chance. Every night, I'd take a stroll. Eventually I noticed, that there was always a young teen, lining up for a food van. And every time we'd make eye contact. Every time I feel like I could understand, that no one could ever understand.

What amount of bravery must it require, for a canary to take to the skies again, only to fall again, and then to take to the skies once more. What courage must it take, for a person in so much despair, to still fight to live on. That person, who is disappointed again, and again, when that person still chooses to trust, I must ask, why.

"Love, can touch us one time, and last for a life time."

Because of kindness, because of love, that is why we go on. Even the smallest candle light, can set alight a fire, that's so big, so bright.

The child, don't you feel sorry for him? It was at that instant, I had one most sinful, most selfish wish; an urge inspired within me:

Someone go give that child hug. No one? Then I will.

...

The ugly duckling does not just become beautiful. Beauty was always within it, waiting to be found. It was waiting for a fate, for a chance, when the duckling, looks into the pond....

Till, that moment, till the birds sing, till the person from within the mirror reaches out, until then it will always rain.

But now I am content.