Stranger Connections We are all connected through the same fairy folk, the same ancestry. The world was created somehow, by magic or faith or science, nobody knows. But out of it came people. And there are as many of us as there are shades of blue in the sky, as many personalities as there are leaves on the trees. That's what makes us human. That's what makes us real. And we don't know it, but we all flower, we all grow towards a light, whether it be as bright as day or as dim as night. It's there. It's shining. We don't know what keeps us here, what makes us reach out for this unknown beauty and sometimes we don't want to. That's also what makes us human. But someday we are going to have to accept that there are more of us than we imagine that don't want to flower in this way. There are people that may seem like they have everything, their roots are grounded and their leaves are ready to curl around this shining THING... They are so close and if they would just let everything go, then they would reach the light. But they don't. They can't let go of what blinds them, what hinders them in their path and it must be so LONELY to be blocked out of the sun like that. To feel alone among others like you and you can't see what's wrong with them... That is truly sadness. So when they rise up and feel the need to hold some kind of power over you, you need to stop. Just stop. Because there's nothing worse than going out alone and seeing how much pain you can cause. You may feel like you're part of something more, like you're protecting who you are and not letting anyone hurt you again but in reality, that's not true. You're not saving yourself, you're not doing anything. You're becoming one of them. It's not a job, it's a duty, to yourself, and to them: if you want to protect who you are, you have to prove it. If you want to stop your identity being taken away and stripped down, then you must show that you have the compassion to forgive and to forget. It's not worth the fight, it's not worth the effort and the pain it's inflicting. You're only making your wounds bleed that much harder. All disputes come to an end, someway, somehow. If you look deeper, you can see something more. Because by being targeted by such people, you become a better person. They teach you what it is like to endure pain, hardship, isolation. They teach you restrained anger and deep sadness. But from the fall they dug for you, you can learn to climb back up again. You know that it will not last forever, and that they are truly unhappy inside. They cannot reach their light, and can't bear to see you reach yours. Look deep into yourself, and find it in your heart to forgive them. For out of the ashes will there be restored hope, stronger friendship, renewed love for each other. Even the darkest of people can teach you beautiful things. Learn to harness such power, such emotion from their anger and we will see that connection once more.