The stranger??™s adviceEmma remembered her father??™s famous words, Human beings, like plants grow in the soil of acceptance, not in the atmosphere of rejection.??™ She struggled to understand why she couldn??™t find that soil to grow in. She had never been accepted and the only word stuck in her thoughts was ??? why.??™ Emma thought of her character, would her attitude be the problem, or her appearance, or did she just have an unbearable personality, Emma felt like a confused child, and couldn??™t quite figure out why she was a twenty two year old with nothing to belong to. As she walked up the stairs to her bottom level apartment in the suburbs, she felt rejected, isolated and displaced in the world.
She stepped into her room, sat near her window and stared, stared at the roads, parks, buildings, and people and at everything her eyes could see. As she stared she thought again, whyThe world was full of opportunities and acceptance but she couldn??™t see them, and worst of all, she couldn??™t feel them for herself. Emma??™s phone vibrated, she stared and read the message sent to her by her only close friend, ??? Don??™t forget, my house for the drinks tonight.??™Emma ignored the message, not willing to go anywhere or do anything where she??™d be forced to interact with people.
Earlier that day Emma??™s third request for a job promotion was rejected and this put her in no mood for socializing as her job rejection opened up wounds of her past and reminded her of the earlier times where she??™d been rejected, either by boys she??™d asked out, or friends she??™d try to make. Emma put on her coat and stormed outside her, Emma did not know what she was about to do, clueless about her own actions. As Emma walked rapidly to no specific destination and breathed heavily, the cold winter??™s air, she crossed into the poorer side of town and continued to walk hastily to no destination without any idea what she was doing walking in an area with a bad criminal reputation. Emma crossed into a narrow street, with sirens blazing, she snapped back to reality and realized that she had just walked 5 blocks across town into an area she??™d never been to.
She quickened her pace to escape the street which sent shivers down her spine; these streets were famous for crime. As she walked along the road she heard a voice call her name. ??? Emma.
??™Assuming someone was calling to somebody else, Emma kept walking. The voice grew louder and closer, until the woman??™s voice cried, ??? Emma, stop walking and turn around.??™ The man demanded. Emma??™s heart began to beat as she was not familiar with the voice which had called to her. Emma turned around to spot a woman with a face just like her own.??? Sorry but whom might you be.
??™ Emma answered uncertainly. ??? That doesn??™t matter, all that matters are that I know you, just call me Lou.??™ The girl replied. ??? Ok Lou, what is it that you want??™ Emma said. ??? I couldn??™t help but to notice the expression on your face, you seem distressed.??™??? No I??™m quite alright.
??™ Emma lied. ??? I know what??™s wrong with you, you feel as if you have no connection with the world, and you feel as if you just don??™t belong, am I right Lou asked. Emma was astonished, Lou knew exactly how Emma had felt and Emma hadn??™t even known the girl.??? Ok could you stop the therapy session, I??™m alright.??™ Emma lied again in frustration.
??? Listen, all I want to say is that sometimes the only thing that stops a person from belonging is themselves.??™The next thing Lou was about to say would remain in Emma??™s mind for the rest of her life. ??? Falling is easy, it??™s getting back up that becomes the problem, if you don??™t believe you can find your way out, and you become the problem.
You wonder why you don??™t belong, but the only thing stopping you from belonging is yourself, you give up to easily Emma, have faith and confidence in yourself as well as others.??™ Lou, concluded as she turned around and walked in the opposite direction. Emma had no idea what had just happened as she continued her walk, this time she walked slowly and took in what had just happened. Emma had just talked to a stranger who knew everything about her whilst Emma knew nothing about the stranger. The woman had given Emma advice and she listened to her, not knowing why, possibly because she wanted someone to talk to, even if that person was a stranger. Emma realized that what she had said was right, that maybe Emma was her own enemy; maybe she did give up too easily. As Emma turned around to spot the stranger, she saw nobody, wondering how she could escape from her sight in that short space of time. As she walked backwards, staring towards the direction the woman had walked, she collided with a boy.
??? Sorry about that.??™ Emma said as he glazed at an attractive young man, roughly her age. ??? It??™s ok, don??™t worry about it.??™ The man smiled.
??? I??™m a bit lost today; I??™ve had one of those days.??™ Emma justified. ??? Don??™t we all.??™ The man replied. Emma thought about the advice she had just been given, she had bumped into an attractive man who seemed decent and had an opportunity to take another step, being pro-active about her life, and hopefully finding some sense of belonging.??? By the way, I??™m Emma.??™928 words