Every Child Deserves to Be Seen

My name is Lily. Today, I turn nine.

I am different, and because of that, the world stayed quiet. No candles were blown out for me. No voices gathered to say the words every child waits to hear. Yet my heart is full of things that matter far more than sameness. I feel deeply. I love honestly. I see kindness where others rush past it.

Being different has taught me courage before I learned fear. It has taught me patience, empathy, and strength that does not need permission to exist. I am not missing anything—I am becoming something rare.

If you are reading this, remember that every child deserves to be celebrated, not for fitting in, but for being exactly who they are. Sometimes, a single kind thought can become a memory that lasts a lifetime.