Dear Elle,

7. When your world stops.

Dear Elle,
There will be moments in life that you won't be able to control. Moments where you think that you can't survive the pain, it hurts to breath and you can't possibly imagine the thought of tomorrow when today feels like an eternity.
I can't tell you what those moments will be and when they will happen, but they will happen. I can only tell you that you will survive them. The minutes will feel like hours and the hours will feel like days, but eventually the darkness will become light again and you will be able to breathe. Life will be different, but different will soon become a new version of 'normal'. You will adapt. You will survive and you can do this.
Take comfort in those around you and remember to cry - it will make you feel better!
You might be asking why I am saying something so morbid, but it's part of my motherly wisdom. There will come a moment where you think the world has stopped and you are not sure what may happen next....but it will be okay.
That I can promise you.
As you grow, the world will throw you challenges that will have you questioning just how much more you can take, but I have no doubt you will rise to meet every challenge. I do believe everything happens for a reason, and sometimes you may question 'why'? But in my experience, things always work out. Maybe not in the way you intended but a lesson is learned all the same. Know that no matter what happens, you never have to fight alone.
Never give up, Rochelle.
I love you,
Mum

Elle POV

'Where are you!', I groaned as I opened my drawer for the third time trying to hunt down my favorite black dress pants. I didn't want to look behind me and see the mess that was currently littered all over our bedroom floor. The afternoon sun was streaming through the windows and I had the TV on in the background. I was trying to pack and catch up on the series I was currently streaming before I needed to head to LAX for my flight out to New York.

A few of the other child psychologists and I were headed to New York for a two day conference but luckily we were able to tie it into the weekend for a little girls trip before we flew back to LA on Monday.

I was super excited as I loved my work girls - Gabby, Lissa and Ana. Even though I was the youngest one of the group, as soon as I arrived at LA Children's they were incredibly encouraging, supportive and keen on making me feel right at home. That apparently also included making myself available for Friday night drinks, every week.

So, given the nature of the trip, I had to pack formal and not so formal and I was thinking my carry-on bag was not going to be big enough. I managed to find what I was looking for and threw the pants on the bed. My packing style - whatever was on the bed was going, whatever was on the floor was staying.

'Okay, I think I'm good', I mumbled to myself as I headed towards the bed and eyed the pile of clothes and an empty, open carry on. My tote bag was all good to go complete with the necessities - wallet, phone, glasses, laptop, conference notes, headphones...you get it.

I was an overpacker....clearly. I began to sort through the clothes, shoes and cosmetics while turning back to the TV.

'May as well get comfy', I climbed up on the bed and continued my sorting.

That was where Noah found me 45 minutes later.

On the last episode

With no bag packed.

And we needed to leave for the airport in about an hour.

'Oh come on! Not him!', I threw a shoe at the TV as Noah walked in. He was quiet as he eyed the mess around the room. His eyes came to land on me sitting in my pile of clothes and looking more like I was ready to go to bed than get on a plane.