I was at the park today.
There was a little girl who was maybe six or seven.
Her arms were traced with scars and her hair was
nonexistent.
She sat alone at the sandbox in the shade tracing the seams on a
stuffed bear in her hands.
A few little boys decided
to go tease her.
They ran around her screaming things about her having
no hair.
Her mother was no where
to be found.
I approached her and held out my hand.
She looked at me dumbfounded.
"Come with me." I say gently.
The little boys had stopped and were now watching us.
She took my hand and I led her over to the edge of the park where
wild flowers grow.
I pulled a purple one from the ground and placed it behind her
ear.
"You look beautiful. Don't listen to
them."
She then said, "How can I be beautiful?
Look at me."
"I'm looking
at you, you are beautiful. I promise."
She picked a pink flower and placed it behind my ear.
"You're beautiful
too."