Tears slipped quietly 

Down her face, hair 

Messily tied back into 

The lowest of low ponytails, and 

Perfectly manicured nails just begun 

I speak, you speak.

Together we share the emotions we’re feeling.

Giving and taking that wonderful thing called Empathy.

Together.

We speak our minds, cry together.

Share our fears, our thoughts, our feelings.

The moment I first saw you, I knew to be afraid.

You were always a good actor

But you don’t act like you used to

Don’t lie

I can see the pain in your eyes

Your silent cries,

Your pleas for help

And I know in their eyes

She cares

It’s like she felt the pain

In my heart

And understood it

All at once

She listens as

The words fall out of my mouth

Whispers of warmth drifting through the air,

The security of being understood,

Such a great feeling,

If only it weren’t so fleeting.

Gentle laughs and puppy kisses,

Light squeezes of a hand,

TikTok’s “nonchalance” trend is taking over social media, and teens have adopted the word in the past year as the viral idea has been spreading in popularity since 2024. Nonchalant people project a low-effort presence, and they don’t talk much.

I'm not very good at empathy.

I can't read the room and feel what nobody has spoken of.

I can see when somebody is sad,

but it's not like I can feel it.

Of course, I can try. 

when I was in fifth grade, 

my dog died.

we had her before I was born.

we cremated her.

When I was five, I remember running across an open field on some warm summer day. We were flying kites, and I chased the one shaped like a bird, imagining I was flying right with it.