I....I....i

"We're together when it counts, and together when it doesn't, because someone is always counting"

I stood there for a small time that stretched forever. The microphone was maybe a little too close to my mouth as I was not accustom to using it, and I was surprised that the sound of my racing heart wasn't being broadcast to the entire audience assembled here. I had no idea what they wanted to hear, I had listened to a few suggestions as to what I should talk about. What I should say, what could I say that they didn't already know though seemed to be my problem. I looked down at my feet as they rested on the metal platforms for them to rest on. I wondered what I should say, I had a speech, actually it was written on my now sweaty palm.

Looking out at the crowd, it seemed like a vast swarm all converging upon the queen. I forgot which insect, bumble bees, ants, I don't know. Once the queen is useless they leave her. I look out on my subjects for the first time, and am glad for the water kept next to me. Fumbling with the microphone I fumbled with my words a little bit before going into my speech "I...." no was that right? "For a few weeks I...." I trailed off again, and I received some pitying glances, and some supportive. 

Taking a deep breath I begin again "I....have been" what have I been doing, it feels like nothing in this long stretch of nothingness. The words are empty and hollow, they are meaningless. I have been doing nothing these past few weeks. I haven't accomplished anything. I haven't overcome anything. And yet here I am speaking, as if I did.

Taking another deep breath the audience looked at the girl expectantly. They knew nerves, and most of them were here because in some fashion or another they genuinely cared. They really wanted to hear her story, but as the words began to flow surprisingly easy out of the girl's mouth they were a little surprised. 

"We have been working for the last couple of weeks to help people recover mentally and physically from the natural disaster that recently occurred." The girl paused, and then continued, no longer concerned with the notes on her hand that were dribbling away. Her hands still fumbled with the microphone, but other than that she was talking smoothly. "We have visited people, we've been on site, and it's been an amazing project with all of us on it. We are here because we love people, we are here because we know these people, and yet some of us are here because we are one of those people." The girl paused, looking around, she was a little surprised at her words, she hadn't meant it to come up like that. She didn't want people to think of her in any way except a part of what she had become "We have tried to help people, our program for all of its size and organization still has spontaneous instances where we are put into teams and told to go on a site." She wasn't grinning, her thoughts of the past were not exactly pleasant ones, but as she continued there was a sort of pleasantness in her voice "We have done many things, and if anyone would like to think of a few it would be appreciated."

"They helped my niece when she was worried about her daughter"

"They visited a hospital with a friend of mine in it and helped him comfort his wife."

"They showed everyone."

The words came out of someone's mouth before the same voice spoke again "We showed everyone." The voice came again, and the girl sought the caster "You showed everyone." 

And looking dead level into the eyes of the person who spoke she smiled and then said "These past few weeks have made me feel amazing." Then looking at the crowd she said "There has been a lot of hate and frustration at this event, at nature. But I think that even if the pain is no joy, the recovery can be."

I rolled down the ramp and began to mingle with the crowd. My heart rate was still up.

I'm not really sure about this, I don't really like it, way too cliche, and too predictable, but I wanted to write something like....like this so I hope that it wasn't too horrible to read.