Through Fire & Ashes

Stories

Page 16 of 18, newest stories first.

• Mónika M.

  Balotaszállás, Hungary

  What burned

  It was hard when my mother died and I had to live completely alone. I lost my job then, too. The plan was that she would come home from the hospital and I would take care of her. In the end I was left alone in a big house, with no work and no means of living.

  What glows

  My sister gave me strength. She is the only one I have left. She got married, and soon, on December 25th, her daughter will be born, a little girl they had been waiting for years.

  Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Mónika M.

  What burned (original)

  Nehéz volt amikor meghalt édesanyám, és teljesen egyedül kellett élnem, munkámat akkor vesztettem el, úgy volt hogy hazajön a kórházból és én fogom gondozni. Végül egyedül maradtam egy nagy házban, munka és megélhetés nélkül

  What glows (original)

  A testvérem adott erőt, ő maradt csak nekem. Férjhez ment, és nemsokára, december 25- én megszületik a kislánya, akit már évek óta vártak

  Track

  Ice Queen

  6 kudos

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• Liz B.

  Haarlem, Netherlands

  What burned

  The divorce of my parents hit me like a brick, and because of how unwilling I was to accept the matter I put away my feelings until I couldn’t really hide them anymore.

  What glows

  When I started to process everything, it made me understand things more and also made me realize that I’ve learned about love, seeing how it wrecked my parents and how I want love to look for myself. It made me able to fall in love with someone and not make their mistakes.

  6 kudos

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• Gina K.

  Marsberg, Germany

  What burned

  The loss of my father this year was one of my darkest times.

  What glows

  My family, friends and my dog at home are always there and keep building me back up.

  Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Gina K.

  What burned (original)

  Der Verlust meines Vaters dieses Jahr war eines meiner dunkelsten Zeiten.

  What glows (original)

  Meine Familie,Freunde und mein Hund daheim sind immer da und bauen mich immer wieder auf

  8 kudos

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• Matt N.

  Krakow, Poland

  What burned

  I've been struggling with addiction for over 10 years. I recently lost someone I loved, who couldn't bear to watch me relapse after a year of sobriety. I could no longer turn a blind eye to my own shadow.

  What glows

  I received support from my family, even though I've had a very complicated relationship with them over the past few years. For the first time in my life, I want to recover for myself. I know this is the only way to truly succeed and finally put an end to my pain.

  Track

  Sing Like A Siren

  6 kudos

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• Stefan L.

  Söderhamn, Sweden · Instagram: Stefan1968 (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  Losing friends you have trusted and loved for more then 30 years, only to find out that the person is a monster.

  What glows

  Family and grand kids, the most precious you ever will have.

  Track

  Ritual

  6 kudos

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• Aspen A.

  Mexico city, Mexico · Instagram: aspen_alva (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  Right now I feel lost, I feel like I have no worth, I'm afraid to watch life pass by while I feel frozen, it hurts to see how I try with all my strength not to sink and sometimes feel that it's not enough

  What glows

  I never imagined that such a pure and unexpected being would give me the courage not to give up, a small pet has brought light into my life, life is worth it... don't give up, don't go out, stay strong

  Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Aspen A.

  What burned (original)

  Justo ahora me diento perdido, siento que no tengo valor, tengo miedo al ver como pasa la vida mientras yo me siento congelado, me duele ver como intento con todas mis fuerzas no hundirme y a veces sentir que no es suficiente

  What glows (original)

  Nunca imagine que un ser tan puro e inesperado me diera el valor de no rendirme, una pequeña mascota ha dado luz a mi vida, la vida vale la pena… no se rindan, no se apaguen, sigan fuertes

  Track

  The Purge

  6 kudos

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• Koen S.

  Leiden, Netherlands

  What burned

  Lost multiple jobs, got close to losing my child and wife.

  What glows

  My child is doing fantastic and me and my wife are still happily married.

  Track

  Don't Pray for Me

  1 kudo

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• Denny E.

  Zurich, Switzerland

  What burned

  I’ve been battling Depression for the last 1 1/2 years and it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to go through

  What glows

  I’m still here, my boyfriend and cats are still with me and each day gets better

  Track

  Sing Like A Siren

  6 kudos

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• Bárbara P.

  Vila Real, Portugal · Instagram: babs86_ (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  Seven years of my life were consumed by a relationship marked by emotional and psychological abuse. I lost pieces of myself trying to hold together something that was slowly breaking me. I questioned my worth, silenced my feelings, and mistook endurance for love. What burned wasn’t just a relationship. It was the version of me who believed that loving someone meant accepting the pain they caused.

  What glows

  What remains is the part of me that refused to disappear. My kindness, my sensitivity, my love for music, animals, and the little things that make life beautiful. I am learning that peace is not loneliness, that walking away can be an act of courage, and that love should never require losing yourself. I may carry scars, but they no longer define me. After everything, I am still here. And there is still light in me.

  Track

  Sing Like A Siren

  6 kudos

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• Fatima M.

  Vila real, Portugal · Instagram: fatimamartins8372 (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  Other people's opinions, the judgment, the poverty

  What glows

  My health, my studies, my freedom ☀️

  Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Fatima M.

  What burned (original)

  As opiniões dos outros, o julgamento, a pobreza

  What glows (original)

  A minha saúde, os meus estudos, a minha liberdade ☀️

  Track

  The Reckoning

  5 kudos

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• Rodrigo A.

  Fortaleza, Brazil · Instagram: driguinnnn (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  I was a victim of various types of abuse when I was a child.

  What glows

  I chose to be a teacher to help children understand that they are subjects of rights and do not deserve to suffer any kind of violence.

  Track

  The Reckoning

  9 kudos

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• Franck N.

  Quimper, France

  What burned

  I lost a baby a year ago. I thought I was never going to be happy again

  What glows

  It gave me willingness to live my life 100%

  Track

  Sing Like A Siren

  3 kudos

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• Lice H.

  Lille, France

  What burned

  This year, I lost almost everything: a long relationship, the home I shared, my job, and the future I had spent years imagining. But the truth is, life had already been difficult long before everything fell apart. For months, I felt completely shattered, as if I had lost not only my life as I knew it, but also the person I used to be. And somehow, I had to rebuild myself from nothing, stepping into a unknown future with no certainty, no direction, and no idea where I belonged.

  What glows

  What still glows is the part of me that refused to disappear. Slowly, I learned to laugh again, spend time with friends, find joy in small things, and reconnect with myself : I had lost along the way. Music and creativity helped me find my way back to myself. Time has brought a little perspective, and today, for the first time in a long while, I can finally see the light ahead.

  Track

  The Reckoning

  11 kudos

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• Alvaro M.

  Barreiro, Portugal · Instagram: alvaro_leite_96 (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  Having to leave the place I've grown at 15 due to suffer from domestic violence

  What glows

  The path I've built after that situation has made me stronger and have the will to help others

  Track

  Raise Your Banner

  4 kudos

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• Oriana D.

  Waltham, United States

  What burned

  I had to leave my house, my family, my friends and my passion one day because of political reasons.

  What glows

  I found comfort in metal music and concerts

  Track

  Raise Your Banner

  1 kudo

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• Sean O.

  Highland Park, United States

  What burned

  Losing my entire family and being the last one left.

  What glows

  I'm still here so there must be a reason.

  Track

  The Purge

  6 kudos

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• Becki S.

  Nuneaton, United Kingdom · Instagram: eternalremorse (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  Life is becoming more expensive by the day

  What glows

  Being there for my daughter is what keeps me going

  Track

  Sing Like A Siren

  4 kudos

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• Michał R.

  Sosnowiec, Poland · Facebook: Michal (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  My father stabbing me in my back when I was running on empty

  What glows

  My small child- My love, My hope, My life

  Track

  The Purge

  0 kudos

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• Paulina M.

  Warsaw, Poland

  What burned

  The death of many loved ones at a young age due to cancer

  What glows

  Family, friends, the love of my life.

  Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Paulina M.

  What burned (original)

  Śmierć wielu bliskich osób w ich młodym wieku z powodu raka

  What glows (original)

  Rodzina, przyjaciele, miłość mojego życia.

  Track

  The Purge

  5 kudos

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• Theo J.

  Richmond, VA, United States

  What burned

  When I was in high school, I sometimes broke stuff. More often than other kids. My parents called me problematic, difficult, and ever since I have the feeling I am always the one to blame. I ended in a marriage, that made me feel I was never good enough.

  What glows

  After years of being in a toxic marriage, I gained the strength and self confidence to file for a divorce. Ever since I came to realize that it were my inner demons, and therapy has brought me a dream life now!

  Track

  Ritual

  10 kudos

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• Caroline W.

  Amsterdam, Netherlands

  What burned

  I lost my mom when I was 15. That and the aftermath - was the hardest thing I've gone through in life.

  What glows

  Music was my way of processing my emotions and it helped me get through a lot of hard times. I now even work in the music industry - so although I experienced something so horrible, I gained something out of it that gave me a future!

  7 kudos

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• Oli I.

  Berlin, Germany

  What burned

  I split with the woman I most relied on in my life, After 20j of relationship and 18j of co-living, it was a very hard move to me living on my own again now.

  What glows

  I understood this is for the best of us ... even for the relationship, we now may keep in a way and can develop in a new way. Realizing and living our own needs and visions in separate places now, lets us grow!

  4 kudos

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• Maja S.

  Uppsala, Sweden

  What burned

  I grew up with a father who drank, and as a child I learned to read his footsteps in the hallway to know what kind of evening it would be. I became good at being invisible, and that habit followed me far into adulthood, into relationships where I never dared to take up space.

  What glows

  My therapist once told me that I am allowed to be a child in my own stories. Now I write letters to my younger self and read them aloud to her, and she finally seems to listen.

  Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Maja S.

  What burned (original)

  Jag växte upp med en pappa som drack, och som barn lärde jag mig att läsa av hans steg i hallen för att veta vilken sorts kväll det skulle bli. Jag blev duktig på att vara osynlig, och den vanan följde med mig långt in i vuxenlivet, in i relationer där jag aldrig vågade ta plats.

  What glows (original)

  Min terapeut sa en gång att jag får vara ett barn i mina egna berättelser. Nu skriver jag brev till mitt yngre jag och läser dem högt för henne, och hon tycks äntligen lyssna.

  Track

  Sing Like A Siren

  7 kudos

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• Karolina M.

  Poznań, Poland

  What burned

  My grandmother survived the war, but never spoke about it. Only after her death did I find a letter in a drawer in which she described everything she had lost and asked that someone from the family read it one day. I sat with that letter all night and understood for the first time why she always looked out the window when it was quiet.

  What glows

  I read the letter aloud to the whole family on her birthday. We cried together, and then we told each other stories that had been hidden before.

  Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Karolina M.

  What burned (original)

  Moja babcia przeżyła wojnę, ale nigdy o niej nie mówiła. Dopiero po jej śmierci znalazłam w szufladzie list, w którym opisała wszystko, co straciła, i prosiła, żeby ktoś z rodziny to kiedyś przeczytał. Siedziałam z tym listem całą noc i po raz pierwszy zrozumiałam, dlaczego zawsze patrzyła w okno, gdy było cicho.

  What glows (original)

  Przeczytałam ten list na głos całej rodzinie na jej urodziny. Płakaliśmy razem, a potem opowiadaliśmy sobie historie, które wcześniej były ukryte.

  Track

  Don't Pray for Me

  11 kudos

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• Beatrice C.

  Napoli, Italy

  What burned

  When I found out I could not have children, I stopped going to my friends' parties because I could not bear to see their kids. For almost three years I isolated myself, convinced that no one could understand, and I let even the dearest people drift away without explaining why.

  What glows

  A colleague invited me to volunteer at an after-school program. Today I help twenty children with their homework..

  Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Beatrice C.

  What burned (original)

  Quando ho scoperto di non poter avere figli, ho smesso di andare alle feste dei miei amici perché non sopportavo di vedere i loro bambini. Per quasi tre anni mi sono isolata, convinta che nessuno potesse capire, e ho lasciato che anche le persone più care si allontanassero senza spiegare perché.

  What glows (original)

  Una collega mi ha invitata a fare volontariato in un doposcuola. Oggi aiuto venti bambini con i compiti..

  Track

  The Reckoning

  12 kudos

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