Unveiling shadows

I've learned that healing isn't a straight line.
It doesn't happen all at once, and it doesn't come with instructions.
Some days you feel strong, like you've moved past the pain.
Other days, the same memories still find you

But healing, for me, has been about showing up anyway.
It's been about allowing yourself to feel without judging those feelings.
About understanding that breaking didn't mean you are weak, it means you're human.

I've learned to give myself grace.
To stop rushing my growth.
To understand that rest is not quitting, and silence is not failure.

Healing taught me that I don't need to erase my past to move forward.
I carry it with me, not as a burden, but as proof that I survived.
And every day you choose to keep going, even when it's hard,
You're healing slowly, honestly, and in your own time.

(Welcome to Zainab & Muhsin's story)