I was adopted from a shelter ๐ก, born with albinism ๐ค, and for a long time, being seen felt terrifying.
Eyes felt heavy. Attention felt unsafe.
But I loved to sing ๐ถ.
My dad, a carpenter ๐ช, never pushed me onto a stage.
Instead, he built one ๐ชต๐ฟ โ a small wooden platform in our backyard where I learned to stand tall, hold a microphone ๐ค, and let my voice exist without fear.
Last night, fifteen years later, I stood on a real stage ๐.
I won a talent competition ๐.
And just offstage, my dad was crying ๐ญโค๏ธ.
Sometimes love doesnโt push you forward.
Sometimes it quietly builds a place where you can grow ๐ฑ โ
until one day, you realize youโre ready to step into the light. โจ