Empathy, unity, compassion.

Empathy, I believe is the strongest emotion known to man. When I think of empathy, I think of the lost, were they ever forgiven? For being gone? As their loss was felt as deeply to the ones they loved as them. And what a curse it is, to feel so deeply. To feel ones pain as your own, to live through them vicariously as if it were you. When I hear stories of women being assaulted or abused, I take it personally as though it were my own story. And isn’t that what women are about? Empathy, unity, compassion. Standing alone seemed so much easier when we weren’t cornered by lingering stares that sent shivers trickling down our spines, so women learned to stand together. And isn’t that so beautiful, being a part of something bigger than yourself, knowing that you are not eternally alone. Isolation is petrifying, unity is strength even though rumoured to be weakness. Thus, feminism was created. Strangely, feminism has now become a misconception. It is to treat each and every one the same, not one superior to another. I find it absurd to be answered with “so I can slap girls back?” when ranting about feminism. Why is it that we resort to violence and destruction, that we strike war before the battlefield is laid. And while I realise that development is a process that pleads patience, how many more lives does it take to open our eyes? Is this infinite or are we intentionally oblivious? I don’t know of one girl who hasn’t gone through a situation where a man has made her uncomfortable, and for that I walk with shame. I want to help, but all I can ostensibly offer is my grief. And if you, beautiful person who is reading this right now, has gone through assault or abuse, I’m so glad you’re here today. And to those lost, you live on with us, you live through us. Gone but never forgotten.