The Night I Chose to Stay

There was a night when the weight of it all nearly broke me. The grief, the guilt, the loneliness it felt unbearable. But I thought of him. I thought of his dreams, his laughter, his warmth. I told myself, “Just one more night.” Then another. And another. Little by little, light returned. Some days are still hard, but every sunrise reminds me that choosing to stay was an act of bravery one he would have wanted for me.