by admin ▪

on May 24, 2026

Before i had my own story

Before I was even born, my mom carried me through some of the hardest years of her life. The drawing reminds me of the stories she used to tell me about being young, scared, and trying to figure everything out while still preparing to become a mother. There’s something powerful about looking back at an image from before your life even started and realizing someone was already fighting for you before they even knew who you would become.

When I look at this image, I think about how strange it is that a single moment can hold an entire future inside of it. At the time this photo was taken, my mom had no idea who I would grow up to be or what kind of life we would have. She could not see the years ahead, the struggles we would survive, or the memories we would eventually create together. But somehow, all of it had already begun.

The image feels quiet, but not empty. It feels like waiting. Like standing in the middle of uncertainty and still choosing hope anyway. I imagine her thinking about whether she would be enough, whether life would get easier, and what kind of world she was bringing me into. I think every parent probably carries those fears, but seeing it frozen in this moment makes it feel real in a different way.

As I’ve gotten older, especially after my military experience and everything life has thrown at me, I think more about sacrifice and survival. I understand strength differently now. Looking at this image today, I do not just see my mom pregnant with me. I see resilience. I see someone carrying both fear and determination at the same time. I see the beginning of my story before I even had a voice of my own.

There’s also something emotional about realizing that before anyone knew me, before I had memories or opinions or dreams, I was already loved enough for someone to keep going through uncertainty for me. That changes the way I look at this photograph. It no longer feels like just an old family picture. It feels like proof that my story started long before I understood it myself.

Somewhere in that moment, before either of us knew what life would become, my story had already started.