WONDERFUL LILY

Oh, honey, let me tell you a story. It's about my little sister, Lily. That girl… she's always been a spark, you know? Full of life, full of laughter. But even the brightest sparks can flicker sometimes.

One day, I found her sitting on the porch, staring at nothing. I mean, literally—nothing. She was just… blank. I sat down next to her and said, "Lily, you okay?" She didn't even look at me. Just shrugged and said, "I'm fine." But I knew better. I could see it in her eyes—she was lost. She was on the edge, and no one knew it. Not even me, until that moment.

I put my arm around her and said, "You know, sometimes it's okay not to be okay." She looked at me then, tears welling up in her eyes. "But I'm supposed to be happy," she said. "I'm supposed to be… wonderful." I sighed. "Oh, Lily. You are wonderful. You just can't see it right now." She shook her head. "Everything's so hard. Even smiling—it feels like work."

I pulled her closer. "Listen to me. You don't have to smile if you don't want to. You don't have to be anything for anyone. Just be you. And let me be here for you." She leaned her head on my shoulder. "I'm scared," she whispered. "I know," I said. "But we're in this together. We'll hold on, okay? We'll hold on for the ride."

We sat there for a long time, just looking up at the stars. I told her, "You don't have to talk. You don't have to do anything. Just know that I'm here. I'll stay with you, Lily. I won't let you go."

And you know what? She started to cry. Really cry. Like, ugly cry—snot and all. But it was okay. It was more than okay. It was what she needed. That night, I saw her—really saw her. And I knew, without a doubt, that she was wonderful. Even in her pain, even in her fear—she was wonderful.

So, let me tell you something. Sometimes, we all feel lost. We all feel like we're on the edge, and no one knows it. But if you can find someone—just one person—who sees you, who really sees you… then you're not alone. And if you're not alone, then you can hold on. You can hold on for the ride.

Lily taught me that. She reminded me that even in the darkest times, there's always a light. And sometimes, that light is someone else—someone who sees you as wonderful, even when you can't see it yourself.

So, if you're out there, feeling lost, feeling alone—just know this: You are wonderful. And someone, somewhere, sees that in you. Even if you can't see it right now. Even if you can't believe it. You are wonderful. And you will hold on. You will hold on for the ride.