I remember one day after my younger brother died, I sat alone in the garden. The sun was out, but I felt nothing. It was close to Easter, and I had a list of commitments. Things I'd agreed to, people I had to see. Each one felt like a chain around my neck. I stared at my phone, anxious and tired. That's when I put it down. It was a moment of liberation. I realized I didn't want to do this anymore. I didn't want to worry about what everyone else wanted.
One message turned into two, then three. 'I'm sorry, I won't be coming.' The words felt strange, as if I were speaking them for the first time. One small act, one message, was enough to break the chains. For the first time in years, I felt like I could breathe. The tightness in my chest eased. It was a turning point in my journey to self-acceptance.
Collection
[
|
...
]