ALESSA'S POV

I used to think peace came from people.

From being chosen. Being loved right.

Being seen.

But sitting here, cross-legged on the living room couch, my laptop balanced on one knee, I realized something:

Peace didn’t come from being chosen.

It came from choosing myself.

And happiness? It wasn’t a reward you earned through suffering. It was a free gift you chose to unwrap every day.

The soft tapping of my keyboard echoed through the quiet room. The lights were low, the air ...