Debbie's journal became her sanctuary. She startedlisting small victories: finishing her assignments on time, saying no to a friend who always took advantage of her kindness, smiling at herself in the mirror.One evening, she stood on her balcony, watching the city lights. For the first time, she felt a flicker of hope.
She wasn't there yet—she wasn't fully healed—but
she was moving.Her phone buzzed with a message from Felix: "Are you free to talk?"
She hesitated before typing back: "Not tonight. I need some time to myself."
And for once, she didn't feel guilty about putting
herself first.