And now, take a brand new look.

Look right in front of you, look closer.

See the girl sitting on the bench.

See the book she's reading about poems and short stories.

Look closer.

She has this constant, genuine, most light hearted smile on her face.

And you wonder. You wonder…how the smallest of things like little stories can make this stranger so happy.

Oh, she'd be so easy to please, so easy to joke with,

Is what you would think.

Now look even closer.

She's holding her book. And with that arm she's using to hold her manuscript,

On that skinny arm of hers, behind her beaded bracelets,

There are these conspicuous marks.

Marks any individual in the society would be able to recognize.

Deep scars. On both of her arms. Like sewn gills on a fish. Why. How. The reasons could be multiple, the reasons could be unfathomable.

And it hits you, it suddenly hits you right in the face, she wasn't always that happy.

You realize behind this image of that radiant young girl is a lady yet to blossom.

A strong woman who has faced maelstroms you can't even depict.

I could go on and on like this.

About people around us, who are suffering in silence.

Who suffered in silence and is now in recovery.

Who is finally way past recovery and earned wisdom way past our imagination.

You see…around you is filled with unknown stories.

So look around.

Learn to take those details in.

Learn to grow from them.

Learn not to judge.

Learn not to hurt others.

And most importantly, learn to spread joy and not hatred.