Nikki Silvestre

For The Good Ones

An Appreciation of Character & Loyalty in the Interaction You Thought Went Unnoticed

We remember these moments vividly yet we still don’t celebrate them enough. The young woman that rushed out of her driver’s seat to check on the elderly man that fell unconscious behind the wheel at his. A new father that dashed to the child of another, registering that she might get swept by the incoming wave. The waitress that recognized a distressed signal and discretely took action to protect and seek help for the abused. The family of four that eyed a traveler alone and invited her presence in as if one of their own. The fellow creative that witnessed a writer bearing her soul to the world with her work and told her to keep going. The doctor with a patient that was fighting back tears and excruciating agony and telling her, ＂You’ve been through worse.＂

There’s a commonality I’ve seen in each, a steadfast quiet that demanded no attention but commanded all of it.

To the men and women that make the hard decisions when you think no one is watching, I see you.

This piece is out of admiration. Not out of hope or wishful thinking, not out of a hunt for acquisition, or of requiring. It is to account for observation in the silent reverberations of character that haven’t gone unnoticed, even though I know there are too many times that still go unaccounted for. Maybe I was never meant to reserve these words for your eyes only so that the world can appreciate and rise to examples. And to know that even in breakthroughs when you think no one cares, trust me: we do.