The Cloth Has To Become Dry by Sariah

The Cloth Has To Become Dry by Sariah - October 2025 Scholarship Essay

Grief and pain are essentially cut from the same cloth—raw, open wounds that desperately cry out for stitching, then need a way for it to remain in that state.
That was my first initial takeaway from Will, a character in Four for the Road by K.J. Reilly.
Most people latch onto the lessons recounted from the one in the spotlight, the star of the story. Yet Will, a quiet side character with a fiery spirit, left a lasting impression better than Asher could’ve ever done in that story.
It also definitely reminded me of something I often forget during my low points in life.
The pain doesn't define me. It knocks me down, but I have the power of choice. I have the upper hand.
Will’s quiet resilience allowed me to realize that you’re not ignoring the hurt—you’re refusing to be consumed by it.
There are bigger, better things ahead. I have to move forward in order to obtain them.
It also helps others understand where you’re at and see where you’re coming from.
It opens multiple doors.
It binds up the wounds.
It allows for another opportunity for you to reach toward.
It’s the silent decision to keep going, to show up, to breathe through that ache without letting it swallow you whole.
It’s drying the cloth that is no longer bleeding.
It might even be looking that grief in the eye and staring at it, never looking away.