Happiness wasn’t the fall from grace headfirst into a grief so deep, so mind-altering, I thought I’d never return, and it wasn’t the treacherous climb back up. But maybe happiness is the view from the top of the mountain, the gasp of fresh air when I finally open my eyes, because every step I’ve taken, no matter how small or how slow, has led me here. Maybe happiness is understanding I’ll never be the same person I was before, thanking her for everything she did for me, saying goodbye, and welcoming the woman I was always meant to be.
