Matt Haig

Humans

Ryan Mateyk

"Don't ever be afraid of telling someone you love them. There are things wrong with your world, but an excess of love is not one."



Yesterday morning, I found myself at work scrolling through the news of the Orlando Pulse shooting, reading and re-reading all the same details, trying my best to hold back tears. I needed to take my mind somewhere else to stop from breaking down at my desk so I started reading this. And read it for the better part of 4 hours before finishing the rest today at work (teaching English in Korea is actually really easy and I don't actually do any work).

I first read The Humans last year and it immediately became a favourite. This story is told from the perspective of an alien visiting Earth for the first time and discovering what it means to be human. What peanut butter tastes like, what purpose clothes serve, what sadness and fear and happiness feel like. What love feels like. And it was the upper I needed. 

I still haven't taken enough time to process this tragedy. What does this mean for the LGBT community? What about all the "progress" that has been made? It's all so uncertain and, quite honestly, terrifying, but despite all the horrors that humans are capable, the unbelievable violence, I believe we are more capable of love and caring and kindness. Sometimes, it can seem hopeless, unbearable. But there is always love. And love will always win.

I'm gonna go cry now but please keep shinin' your lights, folks.

Humans

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