Wow - I wrote down and confronted the memory of when I was told about the divorce. That one got me a little blurry-eyed! The overwhelming thing I felt was that I had died. It wasn't about losing a parent or a particular fear, I just...died that day as a six-year-old. There was nothing else that could describe it.

Reflecting on that took my breath away, but it also suddenly made me respect six-year-old me so much. I was a super sensitive child and I was quiet and shy. If I had acted out more instead of being quiet, maybe someone would have seen how much pain I was in. Instead my parents pretty much just thought I was doing okay. I guess I didn't know how to tell them I wasn't.

I feel a newfound respect for myself and a kind of pride that I could have lived through dying like that. I feel like I should never let myself or anyone belittle my pain again, just because I'm sensitive.