Thelma's life has been a cycle of sacrifice and survival. Raised under the harsh judgment of her mother, a father who is usually silent to her pains, she grows up striving to prove herself. But just as she begins to find her path at university, a family tragedy pulls her back, forcing her to juggle her studies, family burdens, and a toxic relationship that threatens to consume her. Caught between loyalty and self-preservation, Thelma struggles to stay afloat, haunted by guilt and the fear of failing everyone around her. Through friendship, fierce determination, and painful self-discovery, Thelma begins to understand her own strength. Yet each step forward brings new challenges, pushing her to confront dark truths about love, family, and her deepest insecurities. Will Thelma find a way to break free, or will her past pull her back under? Trials of Thelma is a powerful story of courage, heartbreak, and the resilience it takes to rise above the shadows of one's past. Warning: This book contains scenes depicting domestic violence and emotional trauma. Reader discretion is advised.
Chapter 1 PROLOGUE
I stood before the mirror, my reflection staring back at me like an old friend I had never truly known. The woman I saw was a mix of bruised emotions and an unbroken will, but I look different now. Stronger. Wiser. Or maybe I am just tired of pretending that everything was fine when, deep down, I knew that my world had always been one filled with trials.
"Why can't you just be better?"
"You're the eldest! Act like it! You need to be stronger. Better."
My mother's words weren't new anymore, but they stung every time. In moments like this, when silence allows these buried memories to surface, these old wounds throbs the most.
The weight of being "the eldest" hung over my head like a dark cloud, suffocating me, reminding me of every responsibility I carried alone. I was expected to be perfect-strong, capable, always in control. But no one saw how hard it was just to breathe sometimes.
It was ironic-people often mistook me for the girl who had it all figured out. I had mastered the art of wearing a mask so well that most people never suspected how deeply the cracks ran beneath the surface. I had perfected the art of smiling, of pushing through, of standing tall even when I was crumbling inside.
At one point, I had believed that things would get easier with time, that the universe would finally give me a break. But life isn't always merciful right? It is never always is. There is always something-a new challenge waiting to tear you down, a fresh storm ready to test your resilience and push you over the edge.
And yet, even though you are overwhelmed by all that life throws at you, there was still a part of you that refuses to give in. So With every tear, every setback, I cling to the fragile hope that one day I'd rise above it all. That I'd prove them wrong-not for their approval, but for my own peace of mind.
Maybe I wasn't as broken as I believed. Maybe, just maybe, I am unbroken.
And maybe... that is enough.
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Dearest Readers, It's my first book...... and I'm so excited to share this journey with you. I hope you'll find it as compelling and emotional as I do while writing it. Don't leave without following Me and comment as you read, this goes a long way to motivate me to keep writing and of course get your feedback. There might be some errors here and there but note that I will be back to edit and change a thing or two. So enjoy!