Peace Felt Suspicious at First

Dear Delyara, When life has been chaotic for long enough, peace can feel unfamiliar. That was my experience. The first time things were calm, I did not enjoy it. I distrusted it. I waited for bad news. I braced for disappointment. Stillness felt like the silence before damage. It has taken time to understand that not every calm moment is a trick. Some are real. Some are mine. My awakening was realizing I had been addicted to vigilance, not because I wanted it, but because it had once protected me. Now I am learning a new skill: to remain in peace without apologizing to fear.