Whenever the want for crying comes, it is better not to give in, and there are many ways to resist it.
If your eyes begin to water, close them with the heels of your hands pressed to them and count until all is well.
If a stray tear falls, wipe it away and carry on.
If your family screams, remember they are frustrated, angry, upset, and stressed more than you, child.
If your family yells, remember they are the ones working and keeping a roof over your head, food in your stomach, and clothes on your back, child.
If your family rages, remember money is tight, child
And what good are you if you don’t fill every cell in your body with their pain, so they are free to fly away to somewhere happier?
So take it in, be the ear which listens to their venting, be the shoulder who soothes their crying, be the mouth who calms their ranting.
Don’t ever take it out on them because you know they’ll know you aren’t fine, and you are fine no matter what.
Even when your body ached with dull pain from flying off your scooter onto hard dirt and dead grass because you forgot to swerve from the gaping hole in the middle of the path.
Even when your mind began spiraling at leaving the place that’s home and the few friends you have to move halfway across the country where you don’t know anyone besides your parents with little say.
Even when your heart burned and shattered, again and again, every day to the point of driving you away from anything that can relieve the pain.
You don’t cry because you know how to resist it.
And if one day, perched on the edge of your bed, toes digging into the rug, knuckles turning white from gripping the sheets, you do decide to give in to that wanting;
Will you know how?