“Diary Entry: 8/15/24 – Ball Drop“

I have been waiting for the ball to drop for a while now. I watch it go up, filling myself with anxious energy. I anticipate how hard the drop will hit, trying to imagine how I will get back up if knocked down. But as time went on and on, there was still no sight of the ball. My anxiety went down enough to allow me to look around and notice others were waiting for the same ball.

They had all my same fears. They fear they impact as much or even more than me. After the initial round of slipping our woods, jokes start flying, simmering fear. I identify as an introvert, but everything is better with the company. Musics sound more crips, a mile walk can feel like a few steps, and bad news sounds comical. The ball will fall, and it may hit all, some or, hopefully, none of us, but I have built. I can’t imagine the ball destroying the people around me, so I’ll be fine too.