For Whom the Belle Tolls

by Jaysea Lynn

Kindness. That was what helped keep the shadows at bay and kept the shitty souls from being so overwhelming. Kindness and humor and simple understanding.

“You are lovable. You always have been, and you always will be inherently—that means ‘naturally’—easy to love.

“The people who hurt you were monsters, and you had more than your fair share of them in your life. They hurt you because you were there, not because of who you are or anything you did. Their evil was not your fault. Their actions were not your fault. You deserved a loving, safe, happy home, and the fact that you didn’t get that is a crime. It’s not fair, at all, but it wasn’t because of you.

You are so fantastically, wonderfully, entirely you, and it is amazing. You are easy to love, and worthy of joy and protection.”

I will love you as if you were my own child. I’ll always pick you up from the sleepovers. I’ll always hold you when you cry, and make you cocoa, and ask about your day. I’ll have to set boundaries and enforce them sometimes, but I won’t ever hurt you on purpose. I’ll be here for you until you don’t need me anymore.”

I have my own family, and I’m not letting fear compromise who I am anymore.

“Nothing about us feels temporary, and things that aren’t temporary require effort. I can’t do this for you, Bel, but I will do it with you, and I am honored to do so.”

you’re worth living for