Arda Athman, 12
"Camellia Japonica"
pen and ink
To anyone and everyone who has ever doubted my greatness,
I see that you are pretending to not have scars;
To anyone that has ever shamed the humble action of crying too much
I see that you cover it up with wool sweaters two sizes too big.
To anyone that has ever been told they just feel TOO much
It’s okay to be scared and overwhelmed
It’s okay to want to love
when you know you will get heart-broken,
It is okay to hold someone else’s hand while you yourself are shaking
It is okay to not be okay.
Okay?
I hope you take my hand and clean your hands free of any shame in being human.
We hold the world with strings of emotions.
Let’s not forget that cutting those strings are the reason the world is knotted