It Wasn't Easy But It Was Worth It

Written by Aria G. (21 years old)

---

It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. From a childhood plagued with emotional and physical abuses from parents generationally ill with alcoholism, it took great strength to come out of the depths of self-harm caused by confusion, anger, and sadness. The pain they caused was forgotten the next morning as they rose but for me it remains on my skin as a reminder of love during disease. The independence that was forced on me in my youth proved to be my greatest strength as I circumnavigated the globe solo upon reaching my adult years.

Loving someone who is sick can cause deep pain, but having adult mentors, friends with whom honesty can be shared, and a deep will to persevere has given me the opportunity to understand love and share its depths.