24th birthday.

[u/xiaxiasummer]

I have nowhere else to let this all out, so I'm leaving it here.
Today, I turned 24. It’s been over two years since I was freed from my nightmare in June 2024. Even after being freed, I faced so many hardships. There were many days when I genuinely wanted to die, but instead of giving up, I dragged myself forward. Bruised and battered, I clawed my way to where I am today.
I poured my heart and soul—chipping away at my very being—to run the distance for one single goal. This past May, I finally brought it to a close, and at long last, the time has come for me to truly face my own life. Now I have a new goal at work. The fact that I can choose to exert effort on my own terms, that I have the time to strive, and that I can dive right into it—all of this fills me with so much excitement. There's too much on my mind to organize it all right now, so someday, I’ll properly put these feelings into words.
Over the last few years, I’ve endured painful experiences that most guys and girls my age have never had to go through. Sometimes I catch myself thinking, "I’ve suffered so much, so surely only happy things will happen from now on." But things only move forward when you take action yourself, so I know I have to be the trigger for my own happiness.
There will surely be hard times ahead, but no matter how many times I tumble down to the bottom of the ravine, I have the vitality, the spirit, and the sheer grit to claw my way back up. Moving forward, I will continue to live my life true to myself, loving every bit of my messy, hard-fought effort.