Dot Day

September 15th, 2025.

Dear Diary, today is International Dot Day. International Dot Day is an annual celebration of creativity, courage, and collaboration, inspired by Peter H. Reynolds' children's book, The Dot. It follows the story of a young girl named Vashti. Vashti is unable to draw until her teacher encourages her to just "make a mark and see where it takes you." It encourages people to Make Their Mark. For my mark, I'm sharing a poem I wrote about my friend, someone I thought of as a son.

"You know, I always thought the sunset was beautiful. Watching the bright, vibrant colors fill the skyline, with a plane flying overhead and the sound of laughter growing nearer. A sense of relief hits you as the Red, Orange, Pink, and Yellow fill the air around us!

I also always thought you were beautiful. the most handsome and sweet person to ever rome this cruel world. You always managed to light up any room and tell these endless, engaging stories where you just had to inch back, demanding for more—

I never thought you’d make the sunset look so disgusting. 

No matter how long I stare at the sunset, I just want to look away. But I cannot, It’s addicting. 

I can no longer bare to stare at those bright colors, as it reminds me you are no longer bright or vibrant. 

The plane flying over head— it reminds me of 988. 

Trying to reach you, to keep you safe— 

But they couldn’t make it in time. 

The red reminds me of the blood. 

The orange reminds me of the flowers at your funeral.

The pink is the color that left your skin. 

The yellow is all that was left of you. 

But it wasn’t a vibrant yellow. It wasn’t bright, It didn’t light up a room.

It made emotions pour from my eyes, it made my bones ache and i fell to my knees. 

You weren’t You. 

The sunset isn’t beautiful anymore. Not because you didn’t make the colors so beautiful, It may seem disgusting but i know you’re doing all you can. 

You’re trying as hard as you can. 

That’s all you ever did.

I don’t like sunsets anymore.

Because watching the beautiful sky is just watching the sun set,

Watching my son slowly sink away."