Where Tender Souls Rest (English Vers)
The rain fell softly that night.
“I’m tired,” she said while staring at the wet streets from behind the minimarket window.
Her friend sat beside her, opening a pack of bread without rushing to answer.
“Tired of life?”
“Tired of trying to hold everything together.”
Silence settled between them. Not awkward, just calm.
“I’m not afraid of being left anymore,” she continued quietly. “Not because I don’t need people. I just realized… I have to protect myself more than I force someone to stay.”
Her friend gave a small nod.
“You know,” they said, “not everyone can reach that point.”
She let out a soft laugh.
“It’s funny, isn’t it? Even when I’m this broken, I can still love people gently.”
“Because your love no longer comes from emptiness.”
She stayed quiet.
The city lights reflected on the puddles outside. Everything felt quieter than usual.
“I used to think being loved by someone else would make me whole,” she said again. “Turns out, I still had to learn how to stand on my own.”
“And you did.”
“Not completely.”
“But you’re still here.”
That sentence made her lower her head for a moment.
Yes.
She was still here.
After all the long nights, all the tears cried alone, all the fear of being abandoned, all the effort it took to understand the chaos inside her mind… she was still alive.
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“Sometimes I feel sad,” she whispered. “Why can I still be warm to people, while others hurt others the moment they feel empty themselves?”
“Because not everyone has learned how to truly love themselves.”
She took a long breath.
“It took me a long time to become this person.”
“I know.”
“I had to break first.”
“I know.”
“I cried for months just to believe that I was worthy too.”
And once again, her friend answered gently.
“I know.”
No long advice. No forced motivation.
Sometimes people only need to be heard without being treated like they are too much.
“I’m grateful I still meet good people,” she said with a small smile. “I don’t really need many people in my life. Just a few… as long as they’re sincere.”
“And they’re grateful to have you too.”
She turned her head.
“Why?”
“Because not everyone can carry warmth without making others feel indebted for it.”
The night grew deeper.
The rain still hadn’t stopped.
But for the first time in a long while, she no longer felt alone in the world.
And maybe life is really like that.
Not always peaceful. Not always easy.
But as long as there is still love remaining — from yourself, from God, and from kind people — maybe someone can survive a little longer.
— alsnnoire
