By: Carly Bassett, LCSW-S

2nd · Adult Writing (2019)

I venture out into the day with a belief that I am
endowed with just the right amount
of knowledge,
skill,
compassion,
and love
to be able to heal the world.

Instead, I return home in the evening
wondering what fool
would believe they could
achieve such things.

I did not heal the world,
but I nursed its wounds.
Sometimes applying pressure,
but mostly just listening,
holding space,
waiting patiently,
witnessing pain so fierce I could almost feel it in my own bones.

Sometimes all there is to do is this:
Sit with another human being
in their suffering.
And by saying no words, you say it all…
You matter to me.