I just woke up, and something in my heart feels afraid. It’s a quiet kind of fear — not loud or dramatic, just a soft ache that lingers. Maybe it’s the silence, or maybe it’s the emptiness of waking up alone.

It’s really different when you’re home, surrounded by the warmth and familiarity of people you love. Or when you’re with someone — that comforting presence that makes even ordinary mornings feel safe.

But here I am, learning to face the mornings by myself. Maybe that’s what growing stronger means — waking up even when your heart feels a little afraid, and still choosing to begin the day.