(A/N) And It goes like this:

____________________________________________________________

As we come into this world, each of us carry a jar filled to the brim with glass figurines. These figurines sparkle, and they're beautiful and delicate. And you get a whole jar all to yourself.

They have names. Joy, trust, comfort, happiness, compassion... The list goes on. Each of them beautiful in their own way, and each of them carrying a part of you.

And as you are a child, playing with other children, you exchange them freely. You laugh, and you trade these gifts with abandon.

But as you grow older, things start changing, don't they?

You start realizing that sometimes, those precious gifts aren't appreciated. Perhaps one day, as you offered one of these figurines, it was turned down. Perhaps it was even taken, but thrown to the ground. Perhaps it was even ground beneath the boot of the receiver.

And you wonder why

Why would they do that??

Why would they take something so precious, so freely given, and do that??

And it hurts so much.

So people... They don't want to be hurt, do they? They. They decide it's safer not to give out a part of themselves to every person they meet. They grow reluctant. They grow protective. And they withdraw from each other, afraid to get hurt. And the world becomes colder because of that.

And for those who keep on giving, those brave souls who soldier on and continue giving out these figurines, they begin to wonder. We keep giving out parts of ourselves, these beautiful figurines. And perhaps people take them. But... We're not getting anything back.

And disquiet sets in. What if we run dry?

And so, perhaps they stop giving as well. They hunch over what they have left, and they sigh and turn away. The fire they carry within them hidden instead of shared.

But there is another type of person. The type you are. The type who has had his figurines shattered before his face, to have the shards ground beneath someone else's boot and felt your heart shatter alongside it. To have continued giving, to have asked the same question. To understand that perhaps, you might run dry someday

And yet.

And yet

You keep on giving anyway

Do you have any idea how beautiful that is?

You keep on giving, my friend, and one day, you will meet someone, someone who takes your last figurine, looks at it, and smiles. Someone who appreciates what you have just given them, and your heart will sing as they put it in their own jar.

Not only that, as a tear runs down their face, they will gift you a handful of their own.

Look at you. One day, you will touch a person who hunches over his or her own protectively, who sees your generosity and your beauty. And who knows? You might inspire them to start giving again.

You bring beauty and love and care into this world, you bring warmth. You reignite warmth.

And if people don't appreciate that... It's their fault. Don't mind them. Continue giving. You're an amazing person.

One day, you will be appreciated, this I promise

____________________________________________________________

(A/N) I heard a friend of mine who was in a very dark place tell this story. He'd been considering suicide, but had been convinced by his closest friend not to give in; all because she told him this story. It warms my heart to be able to share this with you guys, and I invite you to share this short tale with anyone you think it'll help. After all, everyone deserves to be happy, or be comforted when their sad. I'll update another version of this story soon; till then!

Your Poet,

ShadeFinder.