The Voice in the Hallway

Dear Delyara, Something someone said at work today—a specific tone of voice—sent me right back to when I was ten years old, hiding under my bed. I’m a manager now. I have people who report to me. But in that moment, I was just a scared kid again. I hate that my past has such a tight grip on my throat. I’ve been in therapy for years, I’ve done the work, but the shadow is always there, waiting for a crack in my confidence to slip through. I’m tired of running from a ghost.