One Step at a Time

Prologue:

Kayla sat in the corner of her room, the dim light from the desk lamp casting long shadows on the walls. Her hands were folded tightly in her lap, and her breath came in shallow gasps. It had been a long day—one where the voices had been especially loud. They whispered relentlessly in the background of everything she tried to do, drowning out the soft hum of her thoughts.

"You’re not enough."
"No one cares about you."
"You’ll never get better."

Bridges of Care

Kayla sat on her bed, staring blankly at the walls of her room. The voices had been relentless all day. No matter what she did, their cruel words echoed in her mind.

“You’re a burden.”
“Your friends only pity you.”
“Even your family is exhausted by you.”

Anchored by Love

Nia had always been a dreamer. Growing up, her mind had been a haven of stories, ideas, and wild imagination. But somewhere along the way, her thoughts had turned against her. The voices started as whispers, then grew louder, more insistent, and cruel.

“You’re failing at everything.”
“They’re pretending to love you.”
“You’re disgusting.”

Through the Noise, We Stand

Jamal sat in the corner of his room, knees pulled up to his chest, trying to block out the relentless voices in his head. They had been loud all day, a cacophony of negativity and doubt.

“You’ll never amount to anything.”
“Your family is tired of you.”
“Why don’t you just disappear?”

A Chorus of Support

Amira had always felt safe with her family. Their home was a warm, bustling place, filled with laughter, lively debates, and the scent of her mother’s cooking. But when the voices began, the noise inside her head drowned out everything else.

At first, she tried to keep it a secret. She didn’t want to worry her parents or siblings. But as the days turned into weeks, the voices grew louder, more insistent.

“You’re a burden to them.”
“They’re better off without you.”
“You don’t belong here.”

Reflections in the Steam

Emory hadn’t stepped out of their apartment in three weeks. The clutter had taken over—the floor covered in dirty clothes, the sink piled high with dishes, and the bathroom mirror so smudged it barely reflected back.

The voices had told them this was fine.
“Why bother cleaning? No one’s coming over.”
“You’re disgusting anyway. Cleaning won’t change that.”

Through the Shadows

Layla had always been the friend who lifted others up. She was the one who knew the right jokes to tell when someone was down, who stayed up late to offer advice. But when the voices began, everything changed.

At first, they were whispers. Faint, almost imperceptible, like a breeze brushing past her ear. But as weeks turned into months, the whispers grew louder.

“You’re not enough.”
“They don’t really care about you.”
“You’re a burden.”