New Day. New “One More”.

Gone are the days of one more good morning text, accompanied by a picture of the sunrise from my apartment window. Instead, I am consumed by anxiety—numbness in my face, an elephant pressing on my chest, a war waging in my stomach, tears welling in my eyes, my heart lodged in my throat, and an overwhelming urge to stay in bed. Fortunately, I have a commitment and must work today. Forcing myself to rise one more time, I have one more thought of you. I have a boyfriend no more—one more friend instead. As I prepare for this new day, with all the “one mores” ahead, I place a fresh self-affirmation note on my bathroom mirror: “I am lovable.” It joins yesterday’s note, “I love who I am.” I repeat both statements aloud several times, grounding myself in their truth, before carrying on with my day.