Girl Unknown

There once was a girl who had huge hopes & dreams. Every day her imagination would soar to the most exciting places. As a child, she could sense her differences from the other kids. Small things, mostly. Nothing that seemed noticeable or odd to anyone else. The other children enjoyed being friends with her, but she couldn't claim; that she had a best friend. She enjoyed going to school. There was not much that she wasn't eager to learn about; plus, there was the bonus of seeing her friends, which she rarely saw outside of classes. It didn't take her very long to realize that she was exceptionally smarter than her peers & was quickly labeled the "teacher's pet." She would giggle along with the others and pretend that the teasing didn't bother her even though, deep down, it hurt. What an odd thing to get teased about; certainly, everyone wants to be smart. No matter. Better to be proud of who you are than hiding in shame.

Over time she found solace in art, music, & poetry. Though these activities soothed her soul & quieted her mind, she longed to be around others. Team sports would be a good start. To no surprise, athletic abilities flowed naturally. Building her team skills gave her a feeling of accomplishment that she undoubtedly looked forward to every season. Inevitably with time & practice, her skills started to noticeably; outshine some of the other players. Once again, it seemed that most of her teammates were upset with her accelerated improvements & found new ways to tease & embarrass her. Body shaming in the locker room. Food shaming in the cafeteria. Note passing in classes; whispers & sideways glances in the halls.

The school was no longer the exciting place where she would see her friends, enjoy learning new things, & let her imagination soar. No! This was where new lessons were formed. It is ok to know all the answers, but don't raise your hand. Silence keeps you unnoticed. Sure, you have an accurate free throw, but if you don't miss a couple during practice, it will be all your fault that the team is doing laps again. Deliberately fail. Blending in leads to acceptance.

With all of these new adjustments, people began to include her again in their daily conversations & activities. It was all she had ever wanted. Now that her light had been dimmed, she wondered if hiding all that truly made her shine was indeed what she wanted. Puzzled & confused, she dreamed of happier times. A memory of being picked first for a group project when her friends still accepted her. Followed by the A+ & feeling a proud level of accomplishment. In the first season of basketball; the team all struggled with their skills. As if somehow all the mistakes & inexperience brought them closer together. Yet, none of that compared to making the first basket. Why couldn't she have friends & achieve success? Fear crept over her as she imagined her future. What was the point of having friends that didn't know the real you & accept you for who you are? What was the purpose of having achievements if you had no one with whom to share them? Life is supposed to be connected & intertwined, but at this moment, it feels far from it.

The morning after her restless night's sleep she was no closer to figuring out what to do. Her dreams had made her sad. When she arrived at school that day, she was surprised to run into a new face. Smiling, radiating confidence, the new face spoke. "I can sense that you are feeling down today. My name is Hope. I could use a friend, so why don't you let me listen to what's bothering you & maybe I can help."

Sensing the sincerity in her voice, she poured her heart out. Words & tears fell out in waves. Years of hurt, shame, guilt, & complacency. After a few moments of silence, Hope spoke, "You are different, like me. We are old souls with much empathy in our hearts. Constantly searching for connections to expand & elevate our paths. Not all paths are meant to be walked alone. I believe that we are meant to share this path. No more hiding all of the gifts that make you shine. You are my best friend now until the end of time."