I wrote this in January 2019

Today’s been, long. A 16 year old here ended her life yesterday. It makes me sad for her. Sad for she had an entire life to live. In some sense jealous that she isn’t here. Guilt for wanting that. Grateful to be here. Sad for her family, for all their unanswered questions. For the world. For a life full of potential that isn’t anymore.

I wrote her a letter. That I wish I could have shared with her, even if she’d end up deciding whatever she’d decide. My friend just told me to reread it. Still, just a mixture. Waiting for tomorrow.

I wish I could have told you this before you killed yourself

Dear ____ . Scrap the dear.

Hi.

If you’re reading this I’m guessing you’re suicidal. Have thought, are thinking of, suicide as a viable option. I know that place. Where the only option is to end your life in order to end the pain. It isn’t about ending your life I know. It’s about stopping the world. Getting off from a world you didn’t ask to be part of. Maybe that’s just how I see it. The train moving way too fast on the tracks, the tracks ending at a cliff, the train is going to hurtle down the cliff and you’re going to be shattered to pieces at the bottom. Or you can just get off the train of life.

I don’t even know what to say. For everything is so trite. Everything is so false and meaningless. If there’s one thing I do wish I could do, it would be to come and hold your hand. To stay with you. I’d want you to know that you aren’t alone. That whatever is going on for you, you don’t have to do this alone. There are people out there who care so much about you, yup, even though they don’t know you, have never met you and may never meet you. People who would want to let you into their world. Who’d be happy to let you into their hearts. It’s strange for me to write this for it’s something I need to hear too.

What I wish you could know with all certainty, is that you are worth it. That you are special. That you are beautiful. Just because you are. Just because you exist. You are. Therefore you’re awesome. I know it’s hard to see or believe that at the moment. That it doesn’t make a difference if it’s true or not. Just know that I believe in you. That I trust you. That I know you have way more strength and beauty than you can ever imagine. If you’re able to feel such pain, it says something about you. It tells me just how far your love can go. Just how amazing you are.

I used to quote things all the time. Things like ‘Go as long as you can, then take another step’. Like ‘Faith is taking the first step even if you can’t see the full staircase’. Things like ‘I’ve endured this discomfort before and survived it, and so I can survive it today.
I’ve felt these feelings before and sat with them, and so I can sit with them today.
I’ve felt like giving in before and held onto hope, and so I can continue to hold on today.
I made it through yesterday, and so, I can also make it through today.
I can do it. I will do it. I am doing it. I am strong and I am capable. I will not give up.’

Go as long as you can, and then take another step
Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the full staircase.
I’ve endured this discomfort before and survived it, and so I can survive it today. I’ve felt these feelings before and sat with them, and so I can sit with them today. I’ve felt like giving in before and held onto hope, and so I can continue to hold on today. I made it through yesterday, and so, I can also make it through today. I can do it. I will do it. I am doing it. I am strong and I am capable. I will not give up.

One of the main reasons I held on was because I knew that I didn’t know what could be. Because if I’d end it, that’s the only option – ending it. Whereas if I’d hold onto life, I would always still have the option of ending it. By continuing to live, I can still always choose to die. Whereas once I’ve ended it, I’ve taken all choice away. Another big factor for me was the saying that goes along the lines of hold on because you never know who may one day say because of you, I held on. Although life wasn’t worth it for my own sake, for others, it is. Because even when I can’t see the beauty in my own world, in myself, I know that others are beautiful. Do you know that others are worth it? Is it worth giving life a chance for another day so that someone else will live?

As I said, I don’t know what to say. I don’t have any words. All I see is the pain. I wish I could come and sit with you. Be with you. Just know that, I’m thinking of you. I care. Even if that makes absolutely no sense at all. For I don’t know you and never will know you unless you say hello to me. Yet I care. I believe in you. I believe in the beauty of your world. I believe that when all the pieces are shattered, you get to choose your own life, you get to choose how to rebuild. I believe in your reasons. In your reasons to end it. In your reasons to live. I know that you’re worth it. I know that no matter what your internal or external world looks like you are someone so special and worth it to know.

I’m sad. I’m sad that you’re sad. I’m sad that the world is sad. I’m sad that I can’t actually come and sit with you right now. I’m sad.

E

I’d love to share your letters…

70 thoughts on “I wish I could have told you this before you killed yourself”

  4. I liked that very much so. And the last paragraph is equivalent to the things I have said and thought towards you minus a word or two. Oh and

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ are all my letters but I gladly share them with you so you can use and share them too 🙂

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        1. For appreciating your comment? By the way before replying i went back and reread that paragraph. I could hear you saying it.

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  6. I can personally relate to everything you wrote! Been there in that space. Thank you for posting. Your openness helps others. I agree with Michele — this is your work in the world. (((Hugs))) ❤️

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  7. Ethereal, Eliza. Perhaps my comment was similar when you posted this last year on your old site, but even today it still makes me gasp – and frequently – in amazement.

    Such eloquence, communicating transcendent beauty, all wrapped in the warmest emotional hug. Profoundly sorry you had to go through this yourself at one point, but it’s given you a stirring insight none of us can hope to match.

    Perhaps many are the reasons you made the choice you did, and still accompany us today, but this letter has to be one of the big ones. You’ve penned a spectacular work that therapists everywhere, no matter where they advise, need to use. Yes, it’s that good.

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  8. I remember reading this last year. It’s beautiful. Truly. There’s so much empathy and emotion in it, that I can’t begin to relate to.
    If I ever come across someone who may need to read this, is it alright if I use it? I could credit your blog of course 🙂
    ❤️❤️❤️
    power to the local dreamer ||-//

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  10. This is so heartfelt… You may not have been able to save the girl’s life but you are helping every person who reads this.

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  15. Let me start by asking if you’re alright. How are you?
    This post, combined with a few protected posts on your blog worry a little.

    As far as this letter is concerned, I think it’s an amazing letter. It left me speechless.

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      1. No, since they are protected, I cannot read them. But they do show up on your website (just an announcement that it’s a protected post).

        Because I could not describe how much wisdom was in that most. How much I think it would be helpful for someone at the end of their line to read this. But also how reasonable you are about life being worth it. etc.

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        1. Thanks S.
          They’re not really private, just too dark for the content of this site. I want my site to if anything be helpful, and can’t see how writing such would help others…

          Thanks. I really appreciate hearing that. I hope it would be helpful. I’d love others to write letters and to compile them all together…

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  19. Eliza, this is a gorgeous letter and I am deeply sorry for such pain this girl was feeling that created such hopelessness in her. This is a great blog you have!

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  20. Oh Eliza this was such a beautiful letter. An Indian actor recently suicided. I grew up watching him! But knowing that people are willing to end their lives is tragic. What pain could you be holding onto for you to end your life like that 😔

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  21. That was a beautiful letter you have written. It was so heartfelt.

    I’m sorry to hear what happened to your friend, she shouldn’t have gone through the pain….

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  23. This is a powerful message and will do good wherever it lands. “Go as long as you can, then take another step,” maybe after a rest. 🙂 I relate to. ” Although life wasn’t worth it for my own sake, for others, it is.” In my early twenties, I stayed alive for my parents, and maybe the glimmer of hope that things might get better which they did. Good point about choice and leaving our options open.

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    1. Thanks for reading JoAnna.
      I’d love to read and share others letters. Would you write one?
      It’s definitely easier to stay alive for others, though it also has to get to the place that it’s for oneself, too.
      Love, light and glitter

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        1. I’d love to share such a letter! It’s actually something maybe I should do one day. I’d be scared to open that can at the moment but one day hopefully…

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            1. Thanks!!!! Interesting how different people work differently. I can’t do drafts. If I do they don’t get finished. I can only just write. And let my pen talk. Maybe I’ll write a post asking for it, so that will remind you… I’ve a number of posts on my mind to write. Some day.

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