This book contains stories about abuse, bullying, addiction, mental illness, suicide, sexual exploitation, and emotional pain. These stories are told with care, and nothing here is written to shock you. But if you have been through something hard, parts may bring up strong feelings. That is normal. That is your body remembering.
If at any point you feel overwhelmed—heart speeding, breathing shallow, hands shaky, or you feel like you are somewhere else—put the book down. You can come back later. You can skip chapters. You are in control.
If you feel overwhelmed, come back to your senses—name what you can see, then what you can hear, then what you can touch, until your body settles. This is the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique, and it is explained fully in Chapter 10.
You are never alone. Whether you call it God, the universe, a higher power, or simply the quiet voice inside you—there is something greater than your pain. You were made on purpose, with purpose.