If I could tell her anything – 
that traumatized little girl, 
the one with the most vibrant laughter 
and the most despairing eyes – 
I would tell her of the most precious of meeting places 
and how, 
though she may not know it, 
she has been gifted with it so much sooner than most – 
that place of pain and despair and deep loneliness – 
that is the place where she will see His face 
clearly 
for the first time, 
and He will lift her 
from within the rubbish of stink and shame and regret, 
where the heavy cloak of resentment and selfishness 
weighs her down in the burning coals of anger and hate – 
yes, He will lift her from it 
and carry her into a peace-filled eternity – 
but that there is one thing 
she must do first:
look up.