Sonia Beltz is a former digital editor for Love What Matters based near Dayton, Ohio. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing from the University of Iowa. In her free time, you can find her writing, reading, or researching random historical facts online. Follow her on Instagram at @skatbel.
“Life is good—no matter how busy, uncertain, or challenging.”
“After years of marriage, we each found ourselves in a very dark place. I called him the first time he dropped his kids off at their mom’s house; he walked me through coming home to an empty apartment. Suddenly, we weren’t alone.”
“His words stung in the moment, but I swallowed hard and moved on. The truth is, deep down, I knew he was right.”
“The heroin was laced with fentanyl. I died. I remember waking up, ripping out the IV. The next morning…I bought MORE heroin. ‘WHAT have I gotten myself into?’ I didn’t know what was happening.”
“My doctor told me, ‘If you don’t get a job, you could always work in the circus.’ People would pat me on the head and say, ‘Isn’t she cute?’ But I never gave up, and I proved them wrong.”
“I couldn’t go out to a fancy restaurant without worrying about cutting my steak or remembering to wipe food dribbling out of my mouth. Anything but staying home and feeling sorry for myself felt impossible.”
“I felt perpetually punished for existing. I was barred from running, then from even walking. I realized if I stayed this way, I would die.”
“My heart was shattered the day I was released from the hospital without my son. I prayed my sweet boy would be in caring hands.”
“I still remember the day we bought this toy. She did NOT want to part with it. ‘What’s donate, mamma?’ she asked. My heart was SO FULL.”
“My teacher kept me after class. ‘I was afraid this was going to happen.’ Boys didn’t have pretty writing. She knew it was more than just the handwriting, but I had to stay hidden.”
