“Just because no one sees it doesn’t mean it’s not real.” For a long time, people thought I was okay.  Not just okay — thriving.  They saw my humor.  They saw my personality.  They saw the version of me that made rooms lighter, conversations easier, and moments more enjoyable.  That version of me was infectious. It drew people in. It made them laugh. It made them feel good.  What most people didn’t know was that it was also a mask.  And it was intentional.    The Battles That

For the last seven years, my life has felt like a storm that never passed. Not a quick thunderstorm. Not a bad season. A storm that lingers. A storm that layers darkness, pain, trauma, and exhaustion on top of each other until you forget what sunlight even looks like. I’ve been on a rollercoaster I’ve desperately wanted to get off of, but no matter how tight I’ve gripped the safety bar, no matter how loud I’ve screamed for it to stop, the ride kept going. Loop after loop. Dro