Dear Survivor | A Letter to the One Who Made it Through

Dear Survivor,

You went through a difficult ordeal. There were days when you wondered how you got into the situation, days when you wondered if it would ever end. For a long time, maybe months or years, you endured trauma. Whether it was physical or emotional pain brought at the hand of someone else or the confusion and suffering dealt by a personal crisis, you felt the agonizing grief of the unknown.

There were daydreams of better times, of freeing yourself from misery, but you were not able to escape, either for fear that you’d be pulled back or because you didn’t know how to find your way in the dark. Regardless, the days were long and hard and you might not have known if you’d see another one.

But something kept you going, kept the fire of fight alive in you. You were holding on and hoping that there were better days ahead. Maybe you saw a flicker of light or maybe you started believing in yourself and the strength that you had, and you eventually made it out.

You were the one who went through a hard thing and because you didn’t give up on yourself, you came out stronger. You might not know what lies ahead, but you are determined to see it through, whatever it is.

You should be proud of yourself. Life tried to take you out, but you wouldn’t let it. You fought hard, and in the end, you won. Now, you are allowing yourself to be open to healing and recovery. That process won’t be easy, but you and I know you are worth it.

I’m so proud of you.

Love,

A fellow survivor