The Mirror’s New Friend

Dear Delyara, I stood in front of the mirror today without my clothes on. Usually, this is the time I spend listing everything I hate about myself—the stretch marks, the soft stomach, the scars. But today, I looked at my body and felt a wave of gratitude. This body has carried me through grief, through long shifts, and through a hundred bad days. It’s not a "project" to be fixed; it’s the home I live in. I touched my stomach and said, "Thank you for being here." I think we’re finally becoming friends.