I can across this picture a few days ago (it's actually the cover art for an alternative metal group that I've never even listened to!)... and for some reason it made my heart hurt.
The last few weeks have been rough for me because several of my friends/peers have come to talk with me. They were dealing with depression, relationship breakups, bad grades on their first round of tests, parents' divorce, and suicidal thoughts/attempts. In some of the situations the girls had made bad choices and were now dealing with the consequences; in some situations they were merely the victims.
So when I saw this picture I could put my friends--and myself--in this little girls' place. She looks dressed up for a friend's birthday party or for a trip to a portrait studio. The white room that should be filled with lacy curtains, bookshelves full of fairytales and picture books, dolls left haphazardly on the floor after an afternoon tea party, and a canopy bed piled high with stuffed animals.
But she is barefoot. Her hair is missing the ribbons and bows. And she is standing in a room full of doors leading to who knows where/what. And she is staring at the massive tail of some monster as it's leaving the room... but who knows for how long?
See, I feel like some of my friends are watching the monster slither out and are breathing sighs of relief... but are terrified that the monster, the depression, the ex-boyfriend, the angry parent, the suicidal thoughts will come back. And they will be trapped--unless they choose to open one of the strange doors. But what if there's something worse behind that door than the monster who's sure to come back? What if it leads to a a dark tunnel? What if it leads to a maze? What if...?
But what if the monster isn't going to come back? She might as well stay in the room because she might be safe there.
But...
What if there's an exit? What if there's a beautiful garden outside? What if there's sunlight and warmth and butterflies and flowers? What if there's lollipops and fairies and unicorns and magic carpets and shooting stars? What if there's something wonderful behind one of those closed doors?
... and what if all that girl needs is someone to hold her hand, give her hope, and stand right there next to her as she opens the door?
...and what if that someone is me?
So when I saw this picture I could put my friends--and myself--in this little girls' place. She looks dressed up for a friend's birthday party or for a trip to a portrait studio. The white room that should be filled with lacy curtains, bookshelves full of fairytales and picture books, dolls left haphazardly on the floor after an afternoon tea party, and a canopy bed piled high with stuffed animals.
But she is barefoot. Her hair is missing the ribbons and bows. And she is standing in a room full of doors leading to who knows where/what. And she is staring at the massive tail of some monster as it's leaving the room... but who knows for how long?
See, I feel like some of my friends are watching the monster slither out and are breathing sighs of relief... but are terrified that the monster, the depression, the ex-boyfriend, the angry parent, the suicidal thoughts will come back. And they will be trapped--unless they choose to open one of the strange doors. But what if there's something worse behind that door than the monster who's sure to come back? What if it leads to a a dark tunnel? What if it leads to a maze? What if...?
But what if the monster isn't going to come back? She might as well stay in the room because she might be safe there.
But...
What if there's an exit? What if there's a beautiful garden outside? What if there's sunlight and warmth and butterflies and flowers? What if there's lollipops and fairies and unicorns and magic carpets and shooting stars? What if there's something wonderful behind one of those closed doors?
... and what if all that girl needs is someone to hold her hand, give her hope, and stand right there next to her as she opens the door?
...and what if that someone is me?
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