Life Is Wonderful

I had a dream. Everyone was upside down, walking on their hands... everyone but me. They were laughing with their feet in the air, as if it were all normal. I remember feeling really alone, like I was in my own world all by myself. I woke up this morning, relieved to find myself back in reality, but also realizing that the feeling of complete-and-utter aloneness wasn't going away.
I sat down at the kitchen table to a delicious breakfast, eating my waffles quietly and sipping my cup of juice with grace. My father smiled at me and I forced a smile in return. This was the first time I had ever had to make a smile... they usually come so naturally. Everyone smiles because everyone WANTS to smile.
At school I didn't talk. Pretending to pay attention in classes and nodding along to the sweet voices droning around me, I vaguely made it through the day.
By the time I got home again, I knew something wasn't right. It was time to talk to my best friend.
"Mom?"
I walked into her office quietly, hoping she would be free to talk.
"Yes, sweetheart?" She looked up from her neat pile of papers and smiled.
"Can we talk?"
"Of course we can. I love you. I'm always here for you." I smiled timidly and sat down on the chair beside her. Of course she loves me. She's my mom, my best friend.
"I had a dream... and it got me to think. And now I can't stop thinking. I'm scared, but I don't know why." I sighed and looked out the window at the beautiful blue sky and golden sun. It was so wonderful.
"I went through the same thing when I was your age," Mother began politely. I glanced up at her and smiled. "Thinking can be very confusing. But you will get past it. Life is too beautiful to wonder why everything is. People are wonderful and if you smile, you'll be fine."
I smiled. "I understand. I love you." She loved me too. Life was so beautiful.

... "She's smiling, Dr. Raspon."
A poor, worried mother knelt beside her sleeping child and looked up at her daughter's only chance of every awakening.
"Yes, she does that a lot." He nodded, wiping a speck off of his clean, white jacket.
The fragile mother began to sob quietly. "Will she ever come back, Doctor?"
The doctor sighed. And the mother knew.
"At least she's happy. If she's smiling, she's fine," said the mother.
"I suppose."
A tear trickled slowly down the poor woman's sad face. "She's so beautiful," she whispered. "Dream on, child. Life is wonderful."

... "Life is wonderful," Mother whispered lovely.
"Yes, like a dream."
Mother smiled. "Dream on, child."

And the little girl did.