I’ve been re-watching the seventh season of the new Doctor Who series. This extended quote from The Rings of Akhaten written by Neil Cross is really amazing on so many levels. The words were spoken by The Doctor to an innocent little girl who believed it was her destiny to sacrifice her life for her people, but they could have (and should be) spoken to anyone — the bullied, the suicidal… to everyone.
“Hey, do you mind if I tell you a story; one you might not have heard? All the elements in your body were forged many, many millions of years ago in the heart of a far away star that exploded and died. That explosion scattered those elements across the desolations of deep space. After so, so many millions of years these elements came together to form new stars and new planets; and on and on it went. The elements came together and burst apart, forming shoes and ships and sealing wax and cabbages and kings. Until eventually they came together to make you.
You are unique in the universe. There is only one [YOUR NAME], and there will never be another. Getting rid of that existence isn’t a sacrifice, it is a waste.” The Eleventh Doctor, Doctor Who story #233 – New Series Season 7, Episode 7, The Rings of Akhaten.