eye opening

abi sent me a link to a story that touched her to the core and induced waves of sadness within her. a feral child she said, a story of the girl in the window

so i click it and find out that it's from the st petersburg times out in florida and that the person who shot the stills for the story is none other than my old friend melissa lyttle. my red team mate from back in the day at the eddie adams workshop, the woman who tells fantastic stories with her pictures and the person i've been perpetually envious of and yet very proud to know.

she has a passion for her work that i could only dream of. she writes:

"I wish my brain had an off switch.

I can't sleep. I can't help but lay awake, thinking about a story Lane and I have been working on. It's going to be published in 12 days.

It's a tragic story, but ultimately, one about hope. Though, in a meeting last week, Lane's editor summed things up by saying that this is a story about what happens when a child isn't loved. Somehow that resonates.

I want it to be done right.

I wish I was still making pictures of Dani. Still working it. I can't help but wonder if I did enough. If I've told this story fully and to the best of my ability. Wondering if the family will be happy with the results. Hoping it'll do some good, somehow.

My worst fear is that I haven't done it justice.

I'm drawn to stories like this. It's what I'm most passionate about. In a way I'm dealing with my own demons. Trying to reconcile with the past. But it's not about me.

I want it to be perfect. For Dani. After all, it's her story. Not mine."

- melissa lyttle

i want to write about the girl in the window, but my limited writing skills would not be up to the task. i implore you to read the story and also view the multimedia slideshow. an amazing story, by amazing journalists.

i'd almost forgotten why i got into this job in the first place.

thank you melissa for reminding me.