Why I Relay

It was what you feared. It was what everyone feared; a fear so strong that, for the most part it was easier to ignore than anyone would have believed possible... You saw the look, brushed it aside. You saw it again, lingering and desperate to look away. A shuffle of papers, a tapping of keys, a hand gently laid on an arm. Words were nothing more than noise. A nod of the head, something decided, as you nodded along, unaware of anything agreed to. A life divided, into the before, and now suddenly, the after. Standing, walking, a door opening, when had any of this happened? That look again, softly knowing as it passed on the single folded sheet of shiny paper, light as a feather, yet heavy as lead. "You know dear..." words filtered like marbles through the cushion of cacophonous silence. "There's a choice to make..."

Stand and fight. Stand and fight. Stand and fight. Stand and fight. Stand and fight. Stand and fight.

Or:
Accept and reflect. Accept and reflect. Accept and reflect. Accept and reflect. Accept and reflect.

Through the haze of disbelief, and the fog of terror, something solid started to materialize. An implacable force, a cold and strong resilience, as unbending and firm as steel. A warmth, as adamant as the chill, something more numerous than the grains of sand on the sore, millions of hands reaching out, consoling, holding, comforting and driving you on.

"No..." A smile curled lips not having expected to turn upwards again.
"Excuse me?" the softly caring shape replied, shuffling pamplets with nervous intensity.
"There's no choice to make. I will accept and reflect in the midst of this battle.
I will find fire and strength in the softness as well as the fight.

I am both. I will not lose myself forever in difficult times, but find another facet of my being. I will struggle, I will fight."
"We will fight." the hand from behind the desk rested on your own.
"We will fight." a murmur from the dull amorphous crowd in the waiting room.
"We will fight." a battle cry resonated throughout the building, the city, the world.

We will fight.
We are fighting. We are fighting right now. All around the world, those whose bodies turn against them, those who stand beside them, holding a hand, making a joke. Weeping silently for fear of pain and loss, at the unfairness of it all, at the world shattering potential for finality. Fighting. The scientists, nurses, doctors. Supporting and researching, caring and consoling, searching. Fighting. Individuals behind keyboards and monitors, logging on and spending an imaginary currency on pretty pixels, joining together around the globe to remember, celebrate and have fun. Fighting.

If you read this and feel something, know that support is out there for you. Know all of these people are fighting for you, and all those you care about. That it is ok to be soft, ok to scream and ok rail against the unfairness of this disease. If  you are too tired for the battle, find something beautiful and adore it. That's fighting, don't let anyone tell you any different. Let others pick up the increasingly powerful weapons we have, and fight for you. We will be here.

This is why I relay.

We will fight.

All items shown are sold at The Fantasy Faire to benefit RFL and the American Cancer Society.

The Armoured Warrior

Hair : *TKW* Elomo
Jewelled coronet :  Air_Mistletoe (Hair accessories) RFL silver_CM
Skin :  :[P]: & [TRAP]:// Koie Female Skin [FULL]:// RFL Hope
Eyes : Curious Kitties - Forgotten Doll - Eyes
Necklace : :[P]:- RFL Faerie Pendant [F]
Armour : Anachron - Andraste Armor - Sky
Shield :  [ContraptioN] Salvaged Anti-Riot Shield

Gilded Warrior

Hat: Mudrana Roleplay Set: Lilypod Hat [Click change Colour]
Hair:  /Wasabi Pills/ Raven (F) Mesh Hair
Tattoo:  :[ET]: Seelie Glow Gold
Collar :  Bliensen + MaiTai - Grasp - Collar - gold
Dress : ::B&C:: Genevieve Gown (Lara)
Nails : DP - Koffin Nails
Images taken in Fantasy Faire Sims San Mora, and The Hill