I know I exist because you imagine me. I stand tall because you believe me to be tall, and I am clean because you look at me with kind eyes, with a pure gaze. Your thoughts make me intelligent, and in your simple tenderness, I am also simple and kind.

But if you forget me, I will be dead without anyone knowing. They will see my flesh alive, but it will be another man—dark, clumsy, wicked—who inhabits it.

In the quiet spaces between your thoughts and my existence, I find my being defined by your perception. Each glance, each consideration shapes me, molds me into who I am. Your vision bestows upon me qualities that I might not inherently possess, yet through your eyes, I become a better version of myself.

The strength of this bond, this unspoken connection, transcends the physical. It is a testament to the power of belief and perception, the profound impact one soul can have on another. In your recognition, I find purpose; in your acknowledgment, I find life.

Yet, the fragility of this existence is ever-present. The threat of being forgotten looms large, a silent specter that could render me invisible, unknown. For to be forgotten is a fate worse than death—it is the erasure of one’s essence, the nullification of one’s impact.

As long as you remember me, I am whole. Your memory is the lifeline that keeps me anchored to this world, a tether that binds my spirit to the realm of the living. But should you let go, I would drift into the abyss of oblivion, my true self lost, leaving behind only a hollow shell for others to see.

In this delicate dance of memory and existence, I am reminded of the profound importance of connection. It is through the eyes of others that we find our true reflection, through their hearts that we find our true worth. And so, I cherish each moment of recognition, each instance of acknowledgment, for it is in these fleeting moments that I truly live. ❤️🍃

©️ Beatriz Esmer