To the elderly lady who called my friends idiots for skipping and laughing out loud in a public park

And to everyone else who can’t stand seeing other people happy

I’m sorry for my friends.

Although I don’t know you,

I think you must be a lovely lady.

I think you probably just

woke up on the wrong side

of the bed

this morning,

and the past few days

have been pretty gloomy.

I think you probably just

had a bad day

for a few days

in a row,

and everybody just

keeps bothering you.

I think you probably just

didn’t like

what you had

for lunch,

and you’re angry

because you’re still hungry.

I think you’re a lovely lady.

I think you’re probably just

too mature to partake

in stupid little

child acts,

and by that, I just mean you’re

probably too old and your legs won’t

listen to your body and you’ll start tripping

on your own foot once you start skipping

and fall face first into the beautiful flowerbed.

Maybe the flowers will also make your heart

skip a beat or two.

I think you’re probably still

young at heart,

and by that, I just mean you’re

probably too immature

and seeing your peers

showing their emotions

will cause you

to lose control of yours,

like how a single kid

in a kindergarten

crying for mommy

will turn into

a Shakespearean tragedy.

You’re probably also still learning

the difference between

joy and sadness,

excitement and anger,

or how to read social cues,

for that matter.

I think you’re a lovely lady.

I think you probably grew up

eating Fruit Loops

with a little too much artificial color,

paired with stale Wonder Bread

dipped in week-old milk

out of a broken fridge

filled with your alcoholic dad’s beverages

and your mom’s broken heart,

covered by a torn-up family photo.

I think you probably grew up

going to school

trying to prove to everyone else

you didn’t need a high-sugar diet

to compensate

for your low-income family,

putting your love for sale

just to hope for some love back.

I think you probably also

accidentally fractured a bone

in your index finger,

and for a long while,

pointing fingers became

the only way you could

interact with the world.

And you probably got used to that.

You probably also got used to

crying and getting whatever you want in school,

lying and getting whatever you need in the office,

demanding and getting whatever you say in the store,

and shouting to get whoever you want in the world to listen.

So it’s your turn to listen.

Today, you won’t be served what you’re used to -

pick a different dish.

Today, nobody cares if you don’t like the weather -

move to a better place.

Today, you don’t get whatever you want,

and calling others names won’t change it a single bit -

cry harder and find out.

Because today,

pointing fingers at the world

will not suddenly change its course

and make it revolve around you.

Because today,

shouting names at people

trying to live their lives

will not make yours worth any more.

Because today,

nobody gives a fuck

if you can’t stand

somebody else’s happiness.

There are a lot of benches in the park -

if you can’t stand it,

find a place and sit down.

I’m sorry for my friends.