At one time, I had a deviant art account where I posted writings and photography. I followed a number of people that seemed to be interesting.

It is amazing how many people have real talent. These people are just wandering about the streets, working as baristas for fry cooks or maybe not working at all, just getting by. But when they open and share some of their creative spirit it is like watching someone turn on a light inside themselves, and they shine.

One person I followed shone. She didn’t post that much, but what she posted was good. I was glad I followed her and one day I visited her site with the intention of writing to her and letting her know that I thought she had talent and appreciated it.

I found she had posted a journal entry a few days before. It was full of despair, written in the middle of the night. She described her situation as being without money, without friends, and alone. She appeared to feel there was nothing left for her, and the simple act of writing her despair in a journal entry on a social media site was illustrative of how low she had sunk.

I wrote to her, but received no reply.

Years later, that journal entry is the last evidence of any activity on that deviant art account.

This remains one of the saddest experiences I have ever had.