I killed something today.
No, it wasn't a person, just a mosquito, that's all.
As I crushed it with the force of my hand, I realized something.
This bug was just doing it's job,
Sucking up blood and possibly bringing it home to it's little mosquito family.
It was living, just like me, and all it wanted to do was survive.
All it wanted was to die by growing old.
Or maybe it wanted to die as soon as possible?
It could've been suicidal,
Just like I am.

I saw a boy and his mother today.
I felt grief run through me.
Maybe a father wasn't present since he had died?
Or possibly a relationship ended up badly?
Or maybe there just wasn't a father?
The boy looked happy, like he was genuinely enjoying life.
He has friends, just like I do
And as a kid, like I once was,
He probably had faith and found joy in the world.
The mother enjoyed her son's company, but there was something off about her,
As if a family member had just died.
I know that feeling.
We all do.

I saw a bird in a nest today.
She looked like she was keeping a clutch of eggs warm.
This bird was probably overjoyed when her and her husband found out that they were going to raise children.
The husband was out and about, possibly finding food for the mother.
These birds have a family, just like me.
They have a mother, a father...
Siblings...

I saw a group of teenagers today.
They were hanging out around the park, just talking about whatever they felt like mentioning.
I have people my own age that I talk to like that as well.
Each of those teenagers could be best friends with each other.
Maybe two are dating?
Maybe some secretly hate someone in that group, but conceal their feelings?
Each of those teenagers probably has a different interest, yet the same interests.
One or two of them could be just like me.
They each have a family.
They each have a different life, much like I have my own.

I talked to my best friend today.
As she talked, I started realizing something.
She has things to do other than be my best friend.
She has responsibilities,
Different priorities,
And a different family.
She also has a complex life such as my own.
We're both living through our own lives,
And we just happened to meet in the midst of it all.

Everyone is different, and that's a strange, but interesting concept.
We all have lives different from each other's.
Each life is as complex and deep as our own.
We all have our own interests,
Our own family lines,
Our own personality.
All of us have complex lives, and I respect that.
Sonder such as this always takes place in my brain,
And it always gives me a new respect for humankind.