Janine,

Thanks for summoning the courage and trust to put your feelings into words. One reason such words are seldom written is that, as you mentioned, the writer fears she will depress and alienate her readers. But for some reason these dark words don't have that effect, at least on this reader.

When the words are direct from the heart, and not crafted with some intent to manipulate, they are not alienating at all. Quite the reverse. They speak directly to the dark places in my own heart and I come away with a feeling that I am not alone, that my dark places are part of a greater night, a night that is dark but not empty. I have friends in the darkness, friends who are not afraid to speak to me. Your words are like a small campfire that we can gather around.

Thank you.