online

i read sob stories on the internet

wishing i could reach out and help

but i am stuck in my life of privelege

lamenting over things i cannot change

lamenting over people i cannot save

i want to help people,

but i'm trapped in my naive body,

locked in a room of inexperience

i keep trying to give advice

but i really need someone to give me advice

because i don't know who i am

or what i'm doing.

i try to help people,

a misguided therapist

speaking through personal experience

but my experience is limited

and i don't know how to help.

how can i offer advice when i can't follow it?

what right do i have to help people

when i can't even help myself.

if i could be there,

without risk of disease,

i would reach out,

i would hug,

i would protect.

but there's only so much you can do through a screen.

i read sob stories on the internet

i wish i could save people from their own hell

but i am just another username

on another screen

waiting for someone

to reach out to me

the way i want to reach out to them.