The first short story based around the theme of Empathy to celebrate the National Year of Reading events, is from Maria Williams.

“The English dictionary says empathy is “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.” It’s a tidy definition, and technically it’s right — but it doesn’t really capture what empathy feels like in real life. For me, empathy goes much deeper than that. It’s not just understanding someone’s feelings; it’s noticing them, sensing them, and connecting with them in a way that doesn’t always need words.

“I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs in my life, and I think that’s shaped the way I see people. When you’ve had your own difficult moments, you start to recognise the signs in others. You notice the tiredness behind a smile, the hesitation in someone’s voice, or the way they hold themselves a little too tightly. Because of everything I’ve lived through, I often notice how people are feeling long before they say anything.

“I’ve always been someone who “watches the room.” I can’t help it. I pick up on the tiny things — the shift in someone’s posture, the way their eyes move, or how their tone changes. For some reason, I often just know how someone is feeling before they speak. It’s not something I learned; it’s simply part of who I am.

“People often open up to me, sometimes without meaning to. I think it’s because I’m a talker — I chat, I share, I fill the space — but when it actually matters, I listen. Properly. I give people room to say things they’ve been holding in. And when they do, I try to put myself in their shoes, even if only for a moment.

“Sometimes empathy is as simple as noticing the tiredness in someone’s face. Other times, it’s recognising a feeling because I’ve lived it too. When someone tells me they’re overwhelmed or anxious, I can say honestly, “I’ve felt like that as well.” And the truth is, often we all feel the same way — we just don’t say it. There’s such a relief when someone admits they’ve been there too. It takes the weight off. It makes everything feel less lonely.

“I often explain my own stories, even the silly ones, because sometimes that’s all someone needs to hear. A tiny moment of honesty — even something small or embarrassing — can make someone breathe out for the first time all day.

“Most people don’t want fixing. They want someone who listens without rushing them or judging them. When someone opens up to me, I ask what it’s been like for them, and I really listen. You can feel the shift when someone realises they’re safe to be honest.

“Empathy isn’t about being perfect. I don’t always get it right. But I try. And for me, empathy is the choice to slow down, notice, and care — to say, in whatever way I can, “I see you. I’ve felt that too. And you’re not on your own.”