An open letter to the girl who stayed

TW: SH/SI

You’re the strongest person I know. You fought for us when it mattered. When every breath was met with reasons to not fight. When lying in bed under the covers was the safest place to be and when getting out of bed felt like trying to escape quick sand. You kept fighting, going to therapy, starting medication, staying consistent in your routines. You fought so hard for reasons that you couldn’t see.

I want to thank you for that. For all the times I yelled at you to stop and let me bury myself deeper in the hole I had dug. I was really mean to you. I’m so sorry. Please accept this apology and know that I will not waste the life you fought for. That I will forever be grateful to you and your tenacity and perseverance. Your consistency that has always been our strength saved us. (And maybe our stubbornness too.)

I can take over now. Let me take the steering wheel and let me show you the beautiful life we’re living. Let me introduce you to the people we’ve met, the friends we have made, and the moments we almost missed.

I promise that if I am ever in the position to be the person who shows up for someone in pain like we were and to show them kindness and compassion.

And I promise to be kind to you always, because you saved our life. You’re exceptional.

Thank you.