It’s easy to read sad stories or hear about terrible crimes and still feel far away from them. We might feel sorry, maybe even angry, but then we move on with our lives. But what if the story wasn’t about someone else? What if it were your child, your sibling, your best friend? Suddenly, it’s no longer just news, it’s personal. And that changes everything.

The problem with many of the world’s injustices is that they remain invisible until we imagine ourselves in someone else’s shoes. That’s where empathy starts, not with facts or numbers but with a simple, painful question: “What if it were me?” When we let that question into our hearts, it becomes harder to stay silent and easier to care.

This idea is central to Shadows Over Phuket by Brent Kunzler. The story reveals a hidden world of child trafficking in a place most people associate with vacations and beauty. Through the eyes of a determined detective and the children caught in the system, the book forces readers to confront what’s usually ignored. It brings the issue close to home and makes us feel the fear, injustice, and helplessness these children face. And that discomfort, that uneasiness, makes the book so impactful.

Sometimes, we avoid caring deeply because we’re afraid of feeling too much. We don’t want to be overwhelmed or sad. But the truth is, real change begins when we allow ourselves to feel uncomfortable. When we stop turning away and start asking, “What can I do?”

You don’t have to save the world alone. But you can start by caring more, speaking up, sharing information, or supporting people and organizations that fight for justice. The pain of others should never be ignored because it’s not happening to us. So ask yourself again: What if it were you? And then decide what kind of world you want to help create.