There's
nothing worse than being startled awake. When you sit straight up with your
heart racing a million miles a second.

That's
how I woke up this morning.

I 'heard' her cry 'HELP'.

Even
as I write this it makes my heart beat a little faster.

The
child was not here. She doesn't live in my apartment complex, my state or even
my country. I heard a Thai child's cry of desperation this morning.

Not
playful cries of help when you are being tickled and can't hold back the tears
you are laughing so hard. But a cry for help because the eyes of the people
around you look past your pain... there is nowhere else to turn.

I
don't know why I heard her cry for help. I don't know what this little girl
looks like or where she is. I don't know the things that are making her hold in
the tears of pain. I can't hold her in my arms and tell her it's going to be
ok.

Every
doubt that I had that Thailand was the place I am to go to next are gone. This
morning I heard a cry, and my heart broke.