When my heart snaps...

I often like to share positive, empowering stories. I like to showcase how great working with youth can be. How they overcome adversity. How they are able to deal with so many things at once.
But life isn't always so peachy-king. And I have to say that this is a blog I've gone back and forth on very many times. But it is sitting with me. And the situation is taking a lot of my thought.
This story is one that I really hope has a happy ending. But it is hard to tell...
A young man. A strong young man. With many amazing traits. Great leadership skills. And a personality that knocks everyone's socks off.
But underneath, things lurk. Troubles lurk. Pain lurks. Worry. Heartache. An unwielding unease.
Its been a challenge that W, as I'll call him, has been facing for a long time. He's dealt with it in others, but now he sees it in himself. And its gotten pretty bad. And by pretty bad, I can't even tell you how bad.
He's a young man who wants to go places. Who wants to get some zest out of life. He's a young man who could go as far as the moon.
But now, with these new challenges, we have a hard time even seeing next week coming. Oh sure, there's help. There's always help. And luckily, there are people who want to help him.
But that doesn't mean that, every time he tells me that another, rough chapter has opened, my heart doesn't break. I can hear it snap. Perhaps worse than that snap, is that I can see in his eyes that he knows it snapped. He doesn't want me to worry, he says. How can I not? As an advisor, as a mentor, it is my job to support the young people in whatever way they need it. And sometimes, that means that my own emotions get involved. And sometimes it is truely hard.
I told him he doesn't have to worry about my worrying. That the tears he saw in my eyes that day were because I'd never want anyone to have to deal with what he's dealing with. That I'd much rather worry than not know.That I am grateful that he trusts me enough to tell me.
Because in the end, all I can offer him is support. And caring. The rest, I have to leave up to the professionals. And I just hope that they are the best professionals out there. Because W deserves nothing less than the best. W, I hope you know that. W, I believe in you - and I always will...