“I feel like I am a very compassionate person. People have told me that a lot… I just have a really big heart. I’m a believer in second chances, I always like to see the good in people… I always like to assume the best of everyone… My religion makes me who I am. I was raised in the church and it’s…something that I find comforting. I know that my faith will never leave me. He won’t ever leave. I’ve experienced enough to know that people will come and go. There’s a reason in the season and once that reason season is done, there gonna go but I know he will always be there for me. It’s nice to know I have someone and something to confide in. It’s something I always think about. I always think that by the grace and mercy of god… it’s because of him that I am alive, that I woke up this morning. There’s a lot of people who didn’t wake up this morning, but the fact that I was able to wake up… It says in the bible that tomorrow is promised to no one. He’s my homie g he’s lookin’ out for me!”

As someone with little to no experience with religion, this conversation was eye-opening to me. Ciara’s unwavering faith as something I had never seen before. Nothing could shake her. Nothing I or anyone else could say would make her change her mind. Good.

Sonder – ‘The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.’

Thank you to Ciara Escobar.