Act Like You Belong

This time, when I came home from Ukraine, I didn’t rush.

The last time I returned, I made the mistake of dashing straight back into life. I felt guilty for leaving, off balance for being safe, and a simmering anger at the senselessness of it all.

This time, I allowed myself a few days to sit quietly with my mother. No unpacking of stories, just the relief of being somewhere soft. And then….