HIGHESTNUT

After 4 years of absence, I've returned to these familiar blue halls. Life has blossomed in beautiful ways - a loving wife, a precious daughter, genuine friendships. Yet somehow, I find myself standing in crowded rooms feeling utterly alone.

I've grown tired of fragmenting myself, showing different pieces to different people like a shattered mirror. Once, I wore my uniqueness like a crown. Now, the weight of being misunderstood settles heavy on my shoulders.

My daughter's smile is my anchor. But beneath the surface of my 'good life,' there's a yearning so deep it aches - to be known, truly known, in all my complexity. To stop wearing masks crafted for others' comfort.

So I'm back here, where authenticity still breathes and broken pieces tell beautiful stories. Back where being different isn't just accepted - it's celebrated.

This is my first exhale in years.