Holding them together

Empathy, you say?

Showing compassion towards others,

showing you know what they're going through,

showing that you care about them and for them,

showing that you are right there, right by their side. 

This is what you show them,

this is what they feel.

They know that someone won't give up on them again,

they know that there's someone in their corner, backing them up,

they know that you are that person, their pillar, their ride or die.

It's a burden that you now carry.

a burden that you can NOT screw up.

You can't let them down.

you can't let anyone let them down again.

You can't let them spiral back down into the rabbit hole of self loathing and letting the guilt hold them back when it's done that for long enough.

Empathy is the doorway into a world of hardships and healing,

of regret and retaliation,

of shame and sorrow.

Knowing that what you're doing is helping someone stay afloat, 

helping someone put themselves back together, even if they need a slight nudge in the right direction somewhere along the way,

is the best feeling in the world. 

Nothing compares to seeing that hurt in their eyes lessen day by day, week by week, until eventually you can barely see it. 

You know it's still there, but it no longer has control over them.

They no longer let it define who they are.

They are their own person, capable of such amazing, beautiful things.

So next time you see someone in need of a little support,

go to them.

Be their pillar.

Keep them together.

Don't give up on them.