#spokenthroughink

They told me strength is loud That it arrives with certainty With speeches and sharp edges But mine came differently It came tired It came unsure It came anyway

I learned endurance in small places In classrooms where my name was misread In mirrors that asked too many questions In nights where tomorrow felt negotiable

I am not made of grand victories I am made of moments I did not quit Of mornings I showed up unprepared And stayed longer than fear expected

Some days I move forward Not because I believe But because stopping feels heavier And I have learned the weight of staying still

I carry doubt like a second heartbeat Close, constant, inconvenient Yet proof that I am alive enough To wonder if I can become more

I am still learning what courage means It is not confidence It is choosing myself Even when I feel unfinished

If growth is slow Let it be honest If hope is fragile Let it be mine