Snap!

Her friends said she was always smiling. Always happy. Always in control of her life. 🏆

But when the lights went out, at the end of every day… She was alone. Absolutely. Utterly. Alone. 🏝️

True! Her smile lit up every room. 🕯️

But it couldn't hide the gloom. 🌑

The heavy world weighed her down.

🌏🌍🌎 She felt like she could snap! At any time. 🥺

Exhausted! On the verge of collapse. 😢

But she was smart. At a very young age, she learned how to mask any emotion. 🎓

Her best friend could have died this morning. But you'd never know it. 😊

She always had it together. But like they say: “It's lonely at the top.” 🎩

Her friends always came to her for advice. ❓

But no one realized: She gave expert advice but she couldn't take her own advice.

Her bestie once said: “Girl! I can't thank you enough! Ralph was about to leave me. But your kind words made us both realize what we were doing wrong, what we were doing right, and how we could make amends and move forward happily together. No therapist could help us. But you did. Just by being present and taking the time to listen.”

She had a successful business. A beautiful home. A gorgeous car. Everything money could buy. 🏠 🚘💰

She'd been self-improving to the point that she didn't know what to work on next. 🧐

But the same things that made strong ~~ well. 💪🏾 They also made her unable to be vulnerable. 🥺

Guys kept asking her out. Wealthy, prestigious guys. Guys with great smiles, wit, and charm. 😍

But no matter what they did, or how nicely they treated her … She couldn't let her guard down. Couldn't let them in. 🙃

So without a word, they just left. 😥

Looking inward, she couldn't put her finger on what she was doing wrong.

Every night she lay in bed. Tossing. Turning. Unable to sleep.

Every night the knife in her heart turned just a little more. The torture never stopped.

And when she finally nodded off… The nightmares haunted her. Woulda. Coulda. Shoulda.

Trapped! In her own mind.

Imprisoned! In her own nightmares.

She couldn't make someone love her.

She couldn't make someone stay.

So instead?

She worked on herself some more. She sat down at her desk and brainstormed.

What could she do to make a difference in this world?

And she noticed a theme.

So many teenagers she knew … They were just so lost. Bored. Starting to do some things that could devestate their respective futures.

She drew up the plans.

And she opened a fun place for teens to hang out after school. A safe place where they could talk, play pool, create art… just be kids.

Something she could have benefited from, herself, a few years ago. Something that might have changed her life.

Maybe she couldn't help herself. But she could make a difference to some teenagers. And as Whitney Houston once sang: “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way!”

Sometimes we don't know what happiness is for us personally. We see people smile. And we want to harness the sunshine. 🌞

We hear them laugh. And we want to laugh too. 😂

It's like sitting with friends at dinner. And suddenly, they all start speaking a language we didn't even know existed. They're laughing and smiling. And we want to too. It's within reach but we're unable to grasp it. And hold on.

Smiles turn to sadness. And sadness turns to a profound emptiness.

And life goes on.

©️ 2025

AI art and original story by Valencia Washington

All rights reserved

Not for reproduction