You are enough

The moonlight lit the path, a girl walked along it. Her eyes were flooded with tears, causing her to walk slowly. She reached up and wiped the tears that spilled down her cheeks. The leaves crunched under her feet. Voices swarmed in her mind, causing her to get frustrated. “You’ll never be enough.” A tiny voice pipped up. “You’re not perfect; no one loves you.” Another hit her, the face of the person who said it burned in her memory. She fell to the dirt path, shaking her head and sobbing. “You will never be enough, you will never be enough..” The words echoed through her mind, piercing her heart and soul like an arrow. She pulled herself up and walked to the bridge that went over a river. She wiped tears and went to the rail.

The water swirled underneath the bridge, hitting against the rocks. One jump and a person would be gone for good. Her hands rested on the railing, she clenched it tightly. The words burned in her mind, she couldn’t push them away. The words grew louder and louder, pushing any thoughts she had moments ago, away. She looked to one end of the bridge, then the other. A shadowed figure made it’s way to her.

The girl’s eyes squinted into the darkness, her heart started pounding. The person moved closer. “Ignore the thoughts.” A male voice called. “Push away the pain.”

She sniffed and wiped a tear. “I-I can’t.”

The man stopped in front of her and pulled down a hood from his head, revealing a friendly, gentle face. “You can.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her slightly away from the railing. “Listen.”

The girl stood quietly, the water made a soft roaring noise. A few crickets chirped and the breeze blew softly through the darkness, rustling the trees. The words still pounded in her head. “They won’t go away.” Her voice whispered. “A voice keeps telling me I am not enough and never will be.” She hicupped a sob.

The man placed a hand against her cheek. “My dear girl, listen to me. You are enough. You always have been and you always will be.” His hand swept over the bridge. “Imagine how your family would feel if you jumped.”

Her heart slowed down, the words still swirled in her head, but less harsh. The man continued on, bringing her to sit down next to him on the bridge. “You, my dear, have changed so many people’s lives.” He gazed into her eyes in the dim lighting. His eyes held a familiar spark, they held love. “Just think, all those moments where your laugh and smile made others brighten up. Think of all the glorious times you’ve had with friends and family. Think of what would happen if you decided to give it all up, just because of one person’s words.” He paused letting his words sink in. “Everyone loves you. You are enough. We are not perfect, we never will be.” He slowly stood with her.

“If I’m enough, why-” She gulped. “Why are all these hurtful, painful things coming my way?” She asked.

He replied. “The hardest parts of life, will bring pain and sorrow. There are ups and downs. Life is an ongoing ride. All these pains and hurts you feel, are what are helping shape you. Everything happens for a reason.”

She nodded, the voices had now faded in her mind. The man released her hand. “Now, go home, Charlotte. Always remember, you are enough. Whatever happens, it happens for a reason; and the hardest parts of life are what will help shape you.” His whisper hung in the air before he disappeared into the night. “You are enough.”

Charlotte began her walk home. The stranger’s words gave her a sense of peace. She felt better. One thing that puzzled her most was how he knew her name. Charlotte knew she never mentioned it and she did not recognize the man.

His words rang in her memory. ”Everything happens for a reason.” She couldn’t help but wonder who that man was and how he knew her name.