When I was young, I thought home was always safe. I thought the people I loved would always be there to protect me. But then one day my world came crashing down. Something I never thought I would experience happened—and because of it, I slowly lost trust in myself, in others, and in the world around me.
I kept quiet for years. Not because I had no voice, but because I was afraid no one would listen. I thought, “Maybe I’ll be the one to judge… maybe I’ll be the one to blame.” So I endured it all. I forced myself to smile even though it hurt. I forced myself to be strong even though I wanted to give up.
But over time, I learned that I didn't have to hide everything. That speaking up wasn't a sign of weakness. That the truth is—when you start standing up for yourself, that's when you really become strong. I slowly rebuilt myself. Slowly, but more truly.
It hasn't all been easy. There are still hard days. But now, I choose the light. I choose to listen to myself, and to support myself—even if others have only heard me once. Because my voice matters. I matter.
So if you are going through something, remember: there is hope. You are not alone. And the day will come, you will see the light no matter how many clouds have covered you before.
