Emma's EN-114 Blog

Poem:  “Every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.” -Whitman  I stayed up late texting, laughing about every moment that mattered, even the tiny atom of our shared secrets that nobody else is belonging only to,  us and me,  trying not to overthink, as I scroll through old memes, feeling good even when life feels chaotic, belongs to the friendships we've made, to this small bubble we’ve made. You. Reflection:  The word that surprised me most was “atom” because  it allowed me to think about tiny, ordinary moments that actually feel memorable. The constraint pushed me to string together normal, every-day experiences ( texts, laughs, homework) in a way that feels sentimental. Whitman’s line became a way to show my  connection to the smallest, most everyday details I experience in my life.

Dear Jane, I feel really sad reading your story because it’s clear no one ever truly listened to you. Being trapped in that room and told your feelings didn’t matter must have been terrifying and lonely. As a highschool girl, it made me angry to see how your husband and the others acted like they knew better than you about your own mind.You didn’t deserve to be ignored or controlled, and your story helped me understand why speaking up for yourself is so important.

Dear Desiree,  I’m really sorry for everything you had to go through, because none of it was your fault and you didn’t deserve that kind of pain. You loved honestly and trusted people who should’ve protected you instead of turning away. It makes me sad how quickly you were judged for something you couldn’t control, especially when all you ever wanted was to belong. You were strong even when the world was unfair to you, and that matters. I just wish you had been shown the kindness and love you always gave to others.