It's been almost a decade since I first wrote about leaving home, chasing a dream, and trying to understand what independence meant. When I read those words again recently, I realized I was not wrong back then. I was just early.
At that time, independence meant distance. It meant learning to handle daily life without my parents around. It meant figuring things out through confusion, fear, and quiet effort.
It was not all serious, though. There were fun moments too. Small laughs, new experiences, and simple things that made the hard days easier.
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