A Grown-Up Child

Holidays hit different when you can’t even remember the last time you felt like someone’s child.

When you’ve spent years being the one who plans it, cooks it, buys it, and makes it all happen…

but deep down, you long for the version of you that should’ve been cared for.

You hear people say, “I couldn’t live without my family,”

and you smile — though it hits different when you’ve had to live without yours.

So you make your coffee, light up the rooms,

and remind yourself — you built your own kind of peace.

Even if it doesn’t look like theirs.

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