The Journey Begins
As I look out of the airplane window and watch the earth below, a quiet ache stirs in my stomach. Between my old life and my new one, I think to myself, I’m finally doing it. My best friend once said, “It could have been sooner, but it could have been later.” Today, those words feel like a quiet reassurance. Everything has its perfect timing.
Right now, I need space to heal and rest so I can gain clarity on my next step. For too long, I followed what others expected of me, doing the “right” thing. I went to school, got a job, kept the peace. And yet, I felt empty inside.
Now, that emptiness is giving way to possibility. This decision to move to Sweden is both a goodbye and a homecoming. It is a step toward the life I have always wanted, a life that reflects who I truly am.
I will be staying at my family’s summer house on the island of Smögen. I have dreamed of this place since I was a teenager, imagining myself capturing its landscapes, marine life, and culture through art. That dream never left me, and now I am finally following it.
It is winter in Sweden, the darkest time of year, yet I feel like I am moving straight into the light. I do not know exactly what awaits me, only that I have to follow this feeling. Some may doubt my choice, but I know this is what I need.
Ahead, on a small island in the North Sea, a new life is waiting. This is the first chapter of my story, and I am ready to share it.