Something bad happened and then something good did

My niece/cousin (someone please explain when to use which because I don't know) saw my scars on my arm and she asked, really loud: "What are those?" Now, she is 7 years old, so she has no idea, but it kinda hurt me. I said that they were nothing. She asked again and I sort of panicked and said: "They're stripes, I'm a tiger." I have no idea what she thought of it but she stopped asking so that was good.

Also, I was at my mum's birthday party today and I started talking with one of her friends about the 'high school experience'. She told me that she used to be a depressed, gothic, self harming teenager, but she got over it eventually. She is now in her fifties and one of the happiest persons I've ever seen. Of course, I don't really know what's going on in her life, but she seems happy. So I'm gaining back my hope on a better life. This can actually pass, and it probably will, too.