Here's Our Chance

I didn’t understand her problem at the time. I don’t know if it was just my age but when you’re 18 you rarely focus on anyone’s problems but your own…oh how backwards we can be, right?

She mentioned how she felt ugly, fat and never good enough for me but I never paid it much mind. I avoided these conversations like the plague because I wasn’t sure what to say. Had I known how dangerous this could be or how badly she needed someone to tell her it would be OK, I would have said something. Instead, I was too worried about what to do on Friday night or if my hair was perfectly in place.

I showed up to her house on prom night and as she came walking down the stairs I was stunned…absolutely amazed by her beauty. But instead of telling her this, I said, “Let’s go” and walked her to the limo.

A few weeks later she entered treatment for Anorexia and Bulimia and it killed me to think I could have ever been so blind. If I had that chance to stand there in her living room with her walking slowly toward me down the stairs, I would never miss the chance to tell her how beautiful I thought she was.

I rushed the moment with “let’s go” and missed the golden opportunity to just say “I’m lucky”, or “wow.”

Don’t rush life. Take the time to appreciate what you have.

You never know how much the words you say might mean to someone.

You never know how much the words you don’t say might hurt them as well.