SHADOWS AND LIGHT

Chapter 8:Small victories

Chapter 8: Small Victories

The days after her walk in the rain felt like a slow, gradual climb, but for the first time in a long while, Mira felt like she was moving in the right direction, even if only by inches. Each morning, she forced herself to wake up a little earlier, to get out of bed before noon, to open the blinds and let the daylight in. At first, it felt like a chore, like something she had to do in order to prove she wasn’t completely lost. But soon enough, the morning light began to feel a little less intrusive, a little more comforting.

She still found it difficult to eat, but she made small changes — a piece of toast in the morning, some fruit in the evening. She couldn’t remember the last time food had tasted good, but she had heard from her doctor that taking care of her body was the first step toward taking care of her mind. And so, she continued.

The most significant change, though, was the message she had sent to Sarah.

It hadn’t been an easy thing to do. Reaching out after weeks of silence, after months of withdrawing into herself, felt unnatural. But when Sarah responded almost immediately, her message simple but warm, Mira felt a flicker of something she hadn’t felt in a long time: hope.

"I’m so glad to hear from you, Mira. Whenever you're ready, I’m here."

That message, that tiny gesture of kindness, had cracked something open inside of her. It was like a small key turning in a locked door, letting a breath of fresh air into the suffocating space inside. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

Over the next few days, Mira sent a few more texts, some short, some longer, but each one a little more honest than the last. She told Sarah she wasn’t okay, but that she was trying. Sarah’s responses were always supportive, never pushing, never asking for more than Mira was ready to give.

That Friday, Sarah invited her to meet for coffee. Mira hesitated, the familiar wave of anxiety rising in her chest. She hadn’t been around people in so long, and the thought of seeing someone face-to-face, of having to talk about things, terrified her. But something inside her whispered, “It’s just coffee. You don’t have to explain everything. Just take one step.”

And so, she agreed.