hello.

a long way gone.

New York City, 1998

My high school friends have begun to suspect I haven’t told them the full story of my life.

“Why did you leave Sierra Leone?”

“Because there is a war.”

“Did you witness some of the fighting?”

“Everyone in the country did.”

“You mean you saw people running around with guns and shooting each other?”

“Yes, all the time.”

“Cool.”

I smile a little.

“You should tell us about it sometime.”

“Yes, sometime.”

read this. it's phenomenal.

(especially if you've seen the invisible children film & want to know more)
available at a starbucks near you.

(by ishmael beah)

from the pen of madeleine l'engle.

'when we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. but to grow up is to accept vulnerability... to be alive is to be vulnerable.'
~madeleine l'engle

(thanks, heathey b, for the quote)