The invisible struggles

The Paths of Healing

The campus of Windham University was gently waking up under the golden light of an autumn morning. The leaves, glowing red and gold, lazily fell from the trees, covering the paths with a colorful carpet. Elena walked briskly toward the arts building, clutching her sketchbook. She had spent a restless night, haunted by distorted reflections of her own face. Each brushstroke on the canvas had become a battle to capture the beauty she did not see in herself.

Elena stood in front of her easel, her eyes fixed on the white canvas awaiting her brushstrokes. The dim lights of the art studio created a peaceful atmosphere, a refuge from the mirrors that distorted her self-perception. She took a deep breath, focusing on the idea she wanted to express through her drawings.

Each brushstroke was a dance of control and liberation. She began by sketching the contours of a face—a light and graceful outline that took shape under her fingers. Elena immersed herself in her creative process, letting the vibrant colors and textures mingle on the canvas. "Why do you draw so much, Elena?" asked Lucas, who had approached discreetly, curious to understand what motivated his artistic friend.

Elena paused for a moment, her gaze lost in the shades of her painting. "This is my way of fighting something much bigger than myself." She hesitated before continuing. "I don't know if you know, but I struggle with body dysmorphia." Lucas took a seat on a nearby stool, attentive to her words. "It must be difficult." A sad smile appeared on Elena's lips. "Yes, it's like seeing a reflection of yourself that doesn't correspond to reality. Every day I fight against this voice in my head that tells me I am not enough."

She turned her canvas slightly toward Lucas, showing him the face taking shape. "But when I draw, something changes. Each brushstroke allows me to redefine what beauty means to me. I can create a world where imperfections become magnificent details, where each line and color tell a story of strength and resilience." Lucas carefully observed the painting, captivated by the way Elena captured beauty through her work. "It's amazing. You transform something negative into something beautiful and powerful."

Elena nodded gently. "That's exactly it. Drawing gives me control over my image, a way to rewrite the perception I have of myself." Lucas thought for a moment before saying, "You know, Elena, what you're doing here is art therapy. You use your talent to heal and to grow." She smiled, grateful for this new perspective. "Maybe so. But it's also thanks to friends like you that I can find the courage to keep fighting." Lucas put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We are here for you, Elena." Each brushstroke became an affirmation of her own worth, a celebration of the inner beauty she was learning to see in herself.

In the art studio, Elena continued her healing journey through drawing, transforming her inner struggles into a visual symphony of strength and resilience. Lucas stood in front of the punching bag in the university gym, his gaze fixed and determined. Each impact of his fists against the sand-filled leather echoed across the room, a release from the tension that had been bubbling inside him for too long. Every blow was a struggle against the whirlwind of anger that threatened to overwhelm him at any moment. Elena, who had been quietly observing his training sessions, approached gently. She could feel the intensity of his emotions as he channeled his strength into each blow.

"Lucas," she began cautiously, "can you tell me how boxing helps you deal with your inner demons?"

Lucas paused for a moment to catch his breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "It's as if... as if anger needs an outlet. When I'm here, when I hit, it allows me to release this negative energy. It's like I'm pushing away that part of myself that I don't want to let out in real life." He turned his gaze to Elena, his eyes reflecting a vulnerability rarely seen. "You know, Elena, I've always been someone who feels a lot of things, often too strongly. Boxing is a way for me to control these emotions, to direct them towards something positive."