A Storm Shared

 Written by: Ally Bernales

In the quiet corners of her mind, there was always a storm. It wasn’t loud or violent, but it lingered—clouds of doubt and self-criticism that never quite cleared. Each day, they seemed to grow heavier, casting longer shadows over her thoughts. She wondered if everyone else felt this way, carrying unseen burdens, or if it was just her. It often felt like a constant battle within herself, a war she wasn’t sure she could win.

She tried to push through, to smile and pretend the weight didn’t exist. At work, she was efficient, meeting deadlines and handling tasks with a calm that fooled most. At home, she wore the mask of someone who had it all together, even when the storm inside her was at its peak. But when the world went quiet and the lights dimmed, that’s when the heaviness took over.

Then, there was him. Her partner. He saw through her armor, never pushing or demanding answers, but always there when she needed him most.

One night, as the weight of her own mind became unbearable, she found herself sitting beside him, silent tears threatening to spill. He reached for her hand, and without a word, he pulled her closer.

“I can’t stop the storm in my head,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “It’s too much, and I feel like I’m drowning in it. Sometimes, I don’t even know who I am anymore.”

He didn’t rush to offer solutions. Instead, he simply looked at her with eyes full of understanding. “You don’t have to fight it alone,” he said softly. “I’m here with you, even when the storm feels endless.”

Her heart clenched, but there was something in his words—something gentle yet powerful—that calmed the chaotic thoughts swirling inside her. He wasn’t trying to fix her. He wasn’t telling her to be strong or to let it go. He was just there, offering the kind of presence that made her feel safe in her vulnerability.

“You are enough,” he continued, his voice steady and warm. “Even when you don’t see it, you’re more than enough. You don’t have to prove your worth to anyone—not to me, not to the world, not even to yourself.”

For the first time in a long time, she let herself breathe. His belief in her was like a salve for her aching heart. His presence made the storm seem smaller, more manageable.

As the days went by, he continued to stand by her side. When the dark thoughts crept in, when the self-doubt whispered its venomous lies, he would remind her gently that she was worthy of love, that she was worthy of peace. He didn’t need to do much. His faith in her was a constant anchor, a steady hand pulling her back when she drifted too far into her own turmoil.

Slowly, she began to believe it—believe that she was worth more than her battles, more than the voice in her head that told her she wasn’t enough. With him, she realized that being broken didn’t mean she was lost. It meant she was human. And she was learning that it was okay to lean on someone, to let the weight be shared.

In his arms, she found a place where she didn’t need to be perfect. She didn’t need to fight every battle alone. And with him, she could finally start to believe that the storm would eventually pass—that she was worth the fight.

image from: https://rb.gy/w25pbf