I have been starved of love by those I thought would always be there. The ones I trusted to fill my heart with warmth and light, instead of leaving me in darkness and despair. But in the absence of their love, I found parts of myself I never knew existed. I discovered strength and resilience I never knew I possessed. I have been humbled by these experiences, forced to confront my own vulnerability and the harsh realities of life.

I know what it is like to seek light and only find darkness. To yearn for love and comfort, only to be met with rejection and pain. But I also know what it is like to continue seeking light until I find it. To refuse to give up on love, on hope, on the belief that there is goodness and beauty in the world. And in that relentless pursuit, I have found healing and solace.

“I will soothe you and heal you, I will bring you roses. I too have been covered with thorns,” wrote Rumi. These words resonate deeply within me, for I have felt the sting of thorns and the ache of longing. But I have also found the strength to soothe and heal myself, to bring myself roses in the midst of the thorns. And in doing so, I have learned that love is not just something we receive, but something we must cultivate within ourselves.

Copyright © Beatriz Esmer