“Maybe peace isn’t what we imagine: a quiet, untouched place within us, free from pain or heartache. Maybe peace is about learning to let go, to release the weight of our pain, bit by bit, as we grow. Looking back, I see that I loved him with everything I had. I gave until I was empty, held on even when it hurt, hoping my love could be enough. And maybe that’s the point of it all. I went all the way, loved without holding back. Maybe one day he’ll wake up and find himself truly alone, and realize what he lost: a love that was honest, pure, unwavering.
“But that’s no longer mine to carry. I didn’t lose anything. Instead, I found myself again, piece by piece, like a puzzle slowly revealing an image. And every time he crosses my mind, I send him love and light, because hating would only weigh me down. Love is my nature; letting go with grace is my gift. My love wasn’t wasted. It was a reflection of my truest self, and that’s something I’ll always be proud of.
“Surround yourself with love, with friends who remind you of your worth, with people who fill your life with laughter and meaning. Life gives us this wild mix of moments: some that fill us with warmth and others that leave their mark. Yes, it hurts sometimes, and yes, that’s life: beautiful, complicated, messy, and at times, unfair. But when I look at the people around me, I know they deserve the best of me. I refuse to let pain steal that from them or from me.
“After Samuel, I didn’t push the pain away or bury it under layers of distraction. I made peace with it. I welcomed it in, like an old friend, and we sat together over coffee. It reminded me of everything: the moments of joy, the sacrifices, and the raw vulnerability I’d offered. And that pain? It was proof that I’d truly loved. It was a reminder, not a wound, a quiet testament to how deeply I’m capable of feeling.
“And, with this understanding, I found the strength to go on, to be open-hearted, to keep surrounding myself with people who show me the beauty in life even when it’s hard. Because that’s who I am: someone who chooses to love, give, and stay grateful even when life’s rough edges show. I choose to let life break and remake me, time and time again, knowing that every heartache makes me stronger, and that my love is something beautiful. And that, in itself, will always be enough.”