Dear Reader

“What do ya mean it’s over!” exclaimed Aiden. “There is no way it is over! The audience barely saw me! My fame… Noooo!”

“Stop being hysterical,” said Blake.

“I’m not being hysterical! Ya are the one not making any sense. Did ya not wanna share an important message through stories? What happened to that? The readers are gonna miss me!”

“Do you need another minute?”

“How are ya so calm!? I at least have to leave with sass.”

“I think you are achieving the opposite,” said Blake.

“Ya are so cruel.”

Blake patted Aiden on the back.

“There, there… Feel better now?” asked Blake.

“Yes,” replied Aiden with teary eyes. “Go on, explain about the tragedy. Explain why the audience has to part ways with me.”

“Yes, there was an important message I wanted to share, in the most peaceful way possible. One that is free of pain, one that would hurt as few people as possible. Because ‘harsh’ truths can be a tough pillow for many to swallow. But that is unrealistic, and most likely everyone knows this lesson already. The only difference is how people look at the message.”

“So, what is the message?”

“Well, for the person whose past hurts dictate their present and future, the message is: ‘no one cares about you in this world. They all just want something from you, and if you can give them what they need, only then they like you.’ Or something along that line.” Blake took a long breath before continuing to speak. “For the person who recognizes their past hurts and is working on them, the message goes something like this: ‘people care about you. Not all, but those that do also often struggle with how to care for you. For the amount of support they can give you is usually directly proportional to how much they can care for themselves, and have dealt with their own inner hurts.’ Do you see the growth in that kind of person?” Blake paused again. This time, enjoying a couple more breaths. “Last, for the person who has done a lot of inner work, accepts themselves and what life offers with no judgements, their message goes something like this: ‘live life and see things for what they are.’ They respond to life. Taking full ownership of everything they are and everything they are not. They determine the nature of their experience.”

“The last one does not work for everyone. What if the person has a disability, like being deaf or blind? Did they choose the disability? No, they didn’t! Or what if someone did something unfair to you, like steal all your wealth and now ya are broke? Or what if—” Aiden felt Blake’s front leg on their shoulder and looked them in the eyes, wondering what Blake was about to say.