The Lonely Snowflake

Once upon a time in the coldest winter air, a snowflake was born. This snowflake looked unique and beautiful, like no other snowflake around. The snowflake blew across the sky, hoping to find other snowflakes like itself, yet also wishing to be a special snowflake, one like no other. There was a constant battle within, between wanting to be better than other snowflakes and wanting to find others like itself. The battle was born out of fear: A fear of not being enough, and a fear of not belonging to a group.

The snowflake kept floating and floating in the wind, many cold dark and lonely nights, searching and searching. The snowflake couldn't find anyone like itself, and as a result it felt lonelier and lonelier each coming day and night.

Then one day the Sun cast a light so bright and so intense that the snowflake began to experience what felt like tears rolling down its face. The wind began to finally die down, and the snowflake could finally stop drifting in the wind. The existence it sought, to live high up in heavens, high up in the sky, above everyone else, was coming to an end; Instead, a more earthly existence was nearing as the snowflake gently fell towards the Earth.

As the snowflake began to slowly melt, its unique edges and shapes were no more. It began to look more and more like other snowflakes who were also falling down towards the Earth. This made the snowflake happy: Finally seeing others like itself, it felt a sense of belonging. The snowflake now cried tears of joy, tears which would melt it even further, creating even softer edges. Then it happened: The snowflake settled onto the Earth's surface. It joined the others in a great pure white heap of snow. It finally felt connected and one with the others. Interconnected, a new journey awaited these freshly fallen snowflakes: In the presence of the bright light of the Sun, they would turn into water together, then fly up into the heavens, painting the sky above a brilliant blue for all to see. Some would stay up in the heavens, while others would be summoned to once again to repeat the cycle, once again gracing the Earth with their beautiful powdery presence. The lonely snowflake, along with other snowflakes who felt lonely, were lonely no more. By falling down to the Earth, they found their way up into the heavens.