Chapter 2: Bravery

Hey champ,

I know times are tough right now. Believe me, I really do; what you’re going through is something no human your age should have to endure. I know you didn’t ask for this, and I know it’s not fair. Right now, everyone is telling you the same thing: “stay strong,” “have courage,” “be brave.”

Now of course, folks are telling you this because they care about you and don’t want you to be hurt anymore. Believe me, I feel the same way. But the thing is, you can’t just tell someone how to feel. You can’t just tell someone in the face of adversity to be brave, and expect them to just feel better. That’s not how any of this works.