I carried many storms with me, each one a testament to the battles I have fought. I have washed myself ashore, a weary traveler finding solace in the embrace of the earth. I have been my tide, rising and falling with the rhythm of my heart, and my lighthouse, guiding myself through the darkest nights. Darling, this becoming me didn’t come easy. It was a journey fraught with pain and struggle, a metamorphosis born of fire and tears.

I have let my demons play, giving them free rein to dance in the shadows of my mind. I have cursed God in three languages, my anger and despair spilling forth in a torrent of words. Forgive me, for I am only human, and my soul has been battered by the storms of life. I have peeled my flesh to reveal the broken angels pressed onto my soul, their wings tattered and torn, yet still they cling to me, a reminder of my resilience.

I am my night and my sunshine, a paradox of light and darkness. I have let my screams deafen me at night, the echoes of my pain reverberating through the silence. In the darkness, I swear I have seen the devil begging me to end it all, his voice a seductive whisper in the void. But I have patched myself slowly, piece by piece, gone to war and won myself back. I have emerged from the ashes, a phoenix reborn, stronger and more beautiful than before.

So, here I am. Here I am, standing before you, not asking to be validated. Here I am, not asking to be protected. Here I am, not begging to be loved. I am here, and that’s enough to be celebrated. That is enough. Darling, I am here. I am a glorious cause for celebration, a testament to the strength and beauty of the human spirit. I am here, and that is more than enough.

© Beatriz Esmer