I’m Tired of Protecting the Story

Dear Delyara, There is a secret in my life that has required so much emotional management that I am no longer sure what it would feel like to be simple. That’s what keeping something hidden does over time. It doesn’t just silence one fact. It trains your whole presence. You become careful in strange places. You avoid topics before they’ve even arrived. You read rooms constantly. You become strategic with ordinary truth. I’m tired of protecting the story. But I’m also afraid of what might happen if I stop. That’s the trap.