The world is no less beautiful,

but life has taught her

harsh lessons - and some days,

it feels almost impossible

for her to trust

another human being.

Yet, the changing skies,

throughout these days

and nights of sorrow,

still make her feel

something. More than merely numb.

Cold winds can remind her

that she's still

alive: a real person,

in spite of how

she has often been -

and is still - treated.

Nature has her own

form of harshness:

moments of apparent

cruelty, to rival

that of the human race,

and she too knows

how to cause

devastation.

Yet, Nature is not

sadistic and manipulative,

not in the same gratuitous way.

The trees, and every creature, great and small -

all are as beautiful

as they ever were -

and even though she still

feels like

letting go,

she doesn't.

And she still cares about

the other people too,

even the ones

who have hurt

and rejected her,

and possibly always will.

She thinks about,

worries about them -

wishes them well every day.

Maybe sometimes,

some of them

even think of her as well,

and hope that she's okay.