You remember every appointment.
You plan the meals. You know what size the kids wear, where the missing sock is, and when the school forms are due.
You make it…
You want to be held.
You long for closeness. You miss the safety of loving touch.
But when someone reaches out… Your body tenses. You flinch. You pull away—even if…
You were the strong one.
The responsible one. The one who didn’t fall apart—even when everything else did.
You learned early how to suppress, smile, and keep moving. You were…
You’ve been in therapy.
You’ve unpacked the patterns. You’ve gained insights, connected dots, maybe even had a few breakthroughs.
You know why you react the way you do. You understand…
“I’m fine.”
You say it with a smile. You say it out of habit. You say it because… what else can you say?
You’re holding it all together. You show…
You sit on the same couch.
You attend the same soccer games, the same school meetings. You tag-team bedtime and grocery runs.
You’re present. You’re involved. You’re parenting.
But somewhere…