Ascending Through The Mess: The Conclusion

Ascending Through The Mess is a short story series collaboration with AestheticGraphy  about Sia as she looks back at her​ 14 year old self and how she combats and overcomes whatever society throws at her.

Previous parts:

• Ascending Through The Mess #1
• Ascending Through The Mess #2
• Ascending Through The Mess #3
• Ascending Through The Mess #4
• Ascending Through The Mess #5

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It’s a lovely day, much like my mood. The sun is shining bright and the sky is clear. I’m sitting in the coffee shop down the street clutching a cup of hot chocolate. All this time I’ve been looking back and it hasn’t been easy to re-live painful memories. Why am I doing this? Because I know that I can’t be the only one who felt that way.

I’ve forgiven my bullies. Now that I think of it, they were probably dealing with stuff in their own lives too. That didn’t justify picking on me but I won’t let it disturb my peace now. A few days ago, I saw Lainey at the supermarket for the first time since we finished highschool. I felt cornered and anxious and wanted to disappear into thin air. I decided to put those days behind me. I looked into her hazel eyes as her lip curled into a smirk. “I forgive you.”, I said in an even tone and watched her eyes widen with shock and walked past her. I find that letting go of all the resentment​ and anger that I bottled up over the years with those three simple words had an even greater effect than throwing a punch.

Anxiety still bubbles up and twists my stomach into a knot. I do my best to keep it in check because I’m as resilient as I was on the first day of school when I said that I won’t let this monster get the better of me.

University was a whole new experience. I was forced to step out of my comfort zone many times but I did because I knew that it would help me grow as a person. Friends drifted apart and new ones were made. Except for one: she’s here for life and beyond.

My phone buzzed and I’m looking at an email from my boss reminding me about the deadline for my project. I’ve enjoyed working on this project and even though I’ve finished it, I keep going through it again and again to make sure that everything is perfect. I work at an amazing advertising agency and have been assigned to create a campaign for a major client. They have approved my preliminary idea and can’t wait to see more! I worked on this project for weeks with my team and am really excited to see it in action.

I’m glad to have met people who are supportive and understanding. I’ve become more extroverted and it’s a refreshing change to actually talk to people at parties instead of hiding in the bathroom. I regularly call my family as I’ve moved into my own apartment in the city.

I’m feeling strangely nostalgic while writing about my 14 year old self. You know about most of the bad bits but there were good memories that make me smile even today. I don’t regret my experiences because they’ve shaped me into the calm and confident person that I never thought I could be. There is so much truth in the quote “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”

As I clicked “Publish”, the door of the café opened and the bells on it are chiming cheerfully as I look up from my laptop to see my raven haired friend with her bright blue eyes walk towards my table. I smile and say, “Hey, Alina.”

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Hey there,

C’est fini! I hope that you feel all warm and fuzzy to know that Sia is a stronger and more secure person now. She recovered from the wounds of society’s ever-flying arrows. Everything happens for a reason; she knows that and it kept her going and it should keep you going too!

I’ve enjoyed writing with Riya and it’s been wonderful to hear her ideas and create this character together. If you haven’t noticed already, “Sia” is a portmanteau of our names and just happens to be the name of a popular singer.

Thank you for coming on this journey with us! We really appreciate your feedback and encouragement.

Check out Riya’s version of the conclusion here.

As always, thank you for reading!

– Sanjita

Featured image: Pinterest. Credits to the creator.