RIP

It came to me as a shock when I found that one of my dad's friends from choir had committed suicide by hanging herself. She battled with depression for some time and after a holiday to America, her depression worsened to the point where she couldn't control her emotions anymore.

To those people out there who are currently experiencing depression, just take the time to remember: There are people who care about you more than anything else in the world. There's always a light in a ocean of darkness; you just have to look for it. Life is precious and you only have one chance to live it. Think about how the people you love and those who love you will go through when you are no longer there before you choose your path. I know this can't provide the light in someone's darkness but I hope it will allow them to reconsider their actions before they are done.

"If you look closely in the darkness of night, you will discover the hope that is light."

She was a generous, passionate and respected person and I'm sure those closer to her will be missing her dearly. Although I don't know her well, it is always hard when someone who was loved greatly passes away. So all I can say is, we'll be missing you.

RIP Lily

Start of a Story

The birds chirped melodically outside her window, while the wind rustled the leaves of the trees nearby and the gentle breeze carried the fresh fragrances of spring flowers right into her room. The beauty of nature was cut off abruptly by the ugly beeping of her alarm clock. Kate slammed the snooze button and retreated into the safety of her covers, in attempt to hide the harsh reality of day. Waking up on a school day was definitely not something she enjoyed doing; she hated waking up into a world where she didn’t belong. Weekends were unquestionably much better because that was when she didn’t have to worry about being the sad, lonely nerd who nobody liked. She longed to remain in her dream, where everything at school was perfect for her but she knew she had to get going now if she didn’t want to be late for school. She allowed herself a few more seconds of heavenly bliss before she had to boost herself with a sudden rush adrenaline that would eventually drag her out of bed. She rushed to escaping the house before her mother insisted on driving her to school in their sleek black limousine.

*****

Kate sat silently on the two-seater of the Oscar train and stared blankly out the window, watching the forest of trees and grassland pass by in a blur. In the distance, she noticed the flaming sun peer over the horizon, providing her with a second of hope that today was when everything changed but she knew that it would never happen. Good things never happened to her, she knew. While the beautiful sunrise should have distracted her from the worrying thoughts of school, her mind did not obey her will to be preoccupied with the sun.

He extended his hand towards me in a swift motion and I took it gently, allowing him to lift me from my seat in the back of the limousine. He eased his hand around my waist and guided me towards the double doors of the ballet theatre. People turned to admire my slender figure and the handsome man at my arms. They envied the glamorous red Valentino, the beautiful Prada shoes and the famous Louis Vuitton handbag. We walked into the private box reserved for us on the second storey, complete with a finely set table and glasses of wine already poured. The lights dimmed and the ballet began with the grand opening played by the orchestra…

The passenger announcement interrupted her daydream. A part of her held onto that fantasy, hoping that one day, she would get to show them that she was far wealthier than they thought, but for now, she was content with them thinking of her as the poorest girl in the school.
Of course, they had absolutely no idea that she was rich. You couldn’t tell by the way she dressed or how I acted. Kate never wore expensive jewellery, although she had plenty, never wore fashionable shoes, although she had a whole closet dedicated to them, never wore make up, although she owned the most exclusive sets of famous brands, never acted like she had any money, although her bank account said otherwise. That is, she never did these things at school.
On the weekends, away from the nasty girls at school, she could be herself without having to pretend she was so poor that she couldn’t afford a new pencil case. Each week, she had two days of paradise, where she could wear stylish clothing and dazzling shoes without hesitation or fear of being discovered.

Ballet

Release yourself and fall into the world of imagination, communication and precision. Surrender to the music and let yourself be carried by the graceful melodies that provide you with the theme. Feel the emotion inside you and express them using your movements. Let your technique be precise and your dances come from the heart. Delicate, elegant and charming; enter the world of ballet.

Inner Light

Sometimes we are blinded by what is presented to us. We often forget to look past the deceitful exterior to see the truth of their personality. We often forget that the inner light shines brighter, that looks can be deceiving, that their real personalities are concealed by their visual exterior.

Look deeper. Allow yourself to trust them, find their true self deep inside. Things aren't always as they seem. Don't be full of yourself before all the facts are laid out clearly before you. There's always things that are hidden beneath the surface that you won't find at first glance, so don't judge before you've found everything.