Dear friend,

I know I don't know too much,

Of who you are and where you come from,

Your likes and dislikes-

I know.

Sort of.

Kind of.

So you tell me someone's sick.

How do I respond?

I care about you,

So I'll say,

"Wanna hear a joke?"

Cuz that's what I know.

And I don't know if it'll be okay,

And I don't know how bad it really is.

But I know what hospitals are like.

And they aren't that bad.

I've been there a lot.

Over twenty-two times, and I'm only 14!

I know they're not bad.

I'm still alive.

I'm alive because of them.

But I can't take things seriously.

So I don't.

Because I know it's easy to be crushed.

To be smushed.

To be smashed.

And bashed.

And that's no fun.

And I'll ignore it all,

Most likely making it worse in the process.

So can you smile?

Because as long as she's smiling,

As long as I'm smiling,

You can smile,

My family can smile,

And we'll all smile.

Because that's easier.

Yet so much harder.