That moment changed everything.
Little Steps Back to Myself
Even the boy who once laughed at me tried to talk to me again—but I no longer needed his approval.
I had something better. I had me.
A Conversation I Never Expected
One evening, I came home to find my mom sitting on my bed. She looked… different. Softer.
“I know I hurt you,” she said. “I was scared. Everything felt like it was slipping out of control.”
For the first time, she acknowledged what she did. We didn’t have a long, tearful reunion. But we sat there, quietly holding hands, and something between us began to shift.
From Pain to Purpose
By the end of 10th grade, my hair had reached my shoulders. I went to a real salon for a trim—with Mom’s blessing.
When the stylist turned the chair around, I smiled. This time, I had chosen the haircut. This time, it was mine.
At school, I joined the debate club. I gave my first speech with trembling hands. By year’s end, I won “Most Improved Speaker.”
Creating Something Beautiful: “Locks of Hope”
That summer, Nura and I started a school club: Locks of Hope, collecting hair donations for children with cancer. Dozens of students joined. We raised money, baked cookies, made posters.
We weren’t just healing ourselves. We were helping others heal too.
