My name is Lucas, and I have a balloon problem! Ever since I was six months old, balloons have floated into my life-yellow for joy, purple for love, brown for fear, and red for pain. They follow me everywhere, appearing whenever I feel something deeply. By the time I started kindergarten, I had nearly a hundred balloons trailing behind me. It wasn't until I learned to let go of the ones born from sadness and fear that I discovered something important: I don't have to carry every balloon. Now, in third grade, I keep just a few with me-reminders of joy and love-and I've learned that when new balloons appear, I can release them and be kind to myself.