"You worked so hard for it, sweetie." Her fingers curl in Sandy's hair, her hand cradling the heard now gently as she could. "But. Lasandra..."

Lasandra. Her real name being used with such a serious tone to it. " I've been in a place like yours before and I know it can be so hard at times. To not be taken seriously by people. To try and prove yourself to them. It's frustrating so it's okay to feel unhappy with the outcome if you gave it your all and something tries to ruin it. You have a right to be upset at the moment and at everything else that's been happening."

"However. Please. Please please please don't force yourself to go so fast you end up breaking yourself. You shine so brightly, like a star, and it'll be a tragedy if the light burned out so fast as well. Trust me on those words. It's. Not a fun place to be in at the end."