The sky is so clear after several weeks.
Vale smiles at me, as he looks up. I can’t recall when did I see him smiling last. Life has not been easy for us, but he will never know. He blames us for the unrest he feels within himself. He has reacted adversely to his mother’s visits in the past, and the doctors have asked her to stay away.
He is looking straight into my eyes. I like the confidence.
“Hi, Dad … before you ask me anything, I’m just fine. And I’d like to thank you for being so patient.”
Am I dreaming? My only son has never sounded so sensible.
“Shall we go for a boat ride? It is a clear day.”
“Sure”.
The sky is clear, and so is the water. Reflections are clear enough to enable a new understanding between us. We stay silent as we paddle through the waters. Vale is an equal participant.
I look up again in hope of seeing a God, and thank Him.
Splash….. Aargh….
Vale has jumped into the water. It’s another suicide attempt. He is not free of mental illness.
Life’s not going to be easy – for some more time.
Sunday Writing Prompt “Create Together”
and

Really tragic.
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Tragic. Last month a relative jumped into the river. He was suffering from depression. His body has not yet been found.
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Sad!
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I had such high hopes…such a sad tale. Too many are being lost to suicide, people of all ages.
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It is not easy to gauge how they process stuff mentally. A victim of bipolar once told me that cutting herself and then stopping the bleeding gave her a sense of control, which she lacked in real life.
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So sad….I lost my mother to suicide over 30 years ago and I have several friends who have lost sons, both young and old. It’s sad.
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It is such a challenge often before a suicide attempt people will seem very calm, at peace and so sadly things like this do happen, Important to bring awareness to it.
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Awareness alone is not enough. The patients are often unwilling to accept there is a problem, or see a therapist.
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True I have struggled with Depression since I was a child. I see a therapist now but back then the brief encounters I had with therapy, medical doctors and vocational rehab staff (they help people with disabilities) were extremely negative. I can’t say how it usually is for young people seeking help but I can say that even on reflection the way I was treated as a young person with issues was atrocious. I actually think a lot more people seek help from doctors, teachers, parents,, programs and therapists then people realize but that they are actually being turned away, ignored, or ostracized for seeking help. I have had therapists declare rape is no big deal, something a woman should just accept and declare before I said a word if I came to talk about that I needed to get a real problem. I think the system is way more messed up than people realize. There are problems at every level really.
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Thanks for sharing your experience! I’m deeply moved. Reading about Demi Moore’s struggles recently, gave me a perspective on how childhood abuse destroys self-esteem totally. Despite the wealth and fame, she was trying hard to please a person who did not deserve that, trying to be ‘cool’ – unmindful of the fact that she has millions of followers who already see her as cool, successful whatever… Why was she giving in, when she had the power to chuck him out?
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I actually haven’t read about her story I might check that out
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https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/demi-moore-exposes-dark-secrets-of-her-turbulent-love-life/news-story/3ee4ef62f9c94e4c10565e4019504c34
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