Stay strong our kid

Where do I start?

What do I say?

I don't know.

I don't know how to even begin to address the horror that occurred to our beautiful city on Monday, but I feel I need to. I need to speak up and speak out for those lost. I need to shout praise and pride from the rooftops for those helping. I need to write and talk and cry for myself, selfishly, to attempt to come to terms with it and to move forward, not move on.

I have cried every day this week. Every damn day. I've cried out of sadness, anger, fear, pride and love. My emotions have been all over the place and I'm exhausted. However, I feel like I shouldn't be. I didn't know anyone directly who died. I didn't know anyone directly who was injured. But I did know people who were there and I do know my city and I do know my Mancunian family. Because we are a family; a huge, dysfunctional, loving, supportive family. And that hasn't ever been more apparent than this week.

Never have I known such pride and love than this week. Love and pride has surrounded our city and it has changed Manchester forever.

People make jokes about the IRA bomb all those years ago - "it didn't destroy us, no one died and we go a new Next". Winner. It brought us closer as a city, we regenerated our centre and everyone became that little bit more proud to be a Manc.

We can't joke about this time. We can never joke about this time. But what we can do - after the dust has settled and the tears fall less frequently - is see this whole event as one of the most amazingly proud moments in Manchester's history.

People from every culture, faith and background coming together and helping each other, not just in the immediate time of need to after. After the sirens silence and after the rest of the world keeps turning. Manchester continues to hold hands - sing together - raise millions of pounds - donate our blood - help families day in and day out - stand side by side - be strong - and show that we will not be broken.

In the past few days the Manchester worker bee has been swarming around the city baring the pride is should show. Worker bees are responsible to protecting the hive and caring for the young. On Monday we couldn't do that. We couldn't protect our hive. We wouldn't care for and save our young. But I tell you something - worker bees are the only bee with a sting. And that is what we have shown. We have a sting and that sting is out in force.

We are protective, we are determined and no matter what our city faces -

We are Manchester and the bees still buzz.

Jess x

Also, if you haven't watched these videos please watch them now ...

Mancunians in union poem -

Don't look back in anger - Minutes silence -

#weareManchester