Delayed Reaction

Sometimes I go through something big and feel nothing. No tears. No panic. Just this weird calm like, okay, I guess I’m fine. But then days or even weeks later, it hits me. Out of nowhere. I’ll be brushing my teeth or scrolling in bed, and suddenly I’m overwhelmed by a feeling I didn’t see coming. I used to think I was just slow at processing. But now I think my heart’s just a little quieter than the rest of me. It waits until things are safe, then says, "Okay. Now can we feel this?” So when the emotion shows up late, I try not to push it away. It’s not wrong. It’s just right on time, for me.

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