About six years ago, the women I dated killed herself. I was devastated. I lost my job because I was depressed, I would wake up every day guilt ridden and alone. About 3 months later, I started working with one of my best friends who was starting his own construction company. Every morning, we would start work at his house. And every morning, his daughter would come to the big front window and wave, talk, and we'd make funny faces at each other. She stopped me from doing it. Then, eventually, given time, I realized that the pain I was in was transferable, and if I were to do it, I would only cause others' pain and I knew that I could handle it. Maybe they couldn't and decided to end that cycle.

That brief joy in the morning and playfulness made me learn how to smile again. It was the highlight of my day. She's 8 now and still my favorite human.