Oh wow… I don’t even know how to put this into words without tearing up a little.

Thank you so much.

Winning this contest means more to me than you can imagine.

To be honest, when I submitted my entry, I wasn’t even sure it made sense. I just wrote from a place deep within, raw, honest, a little scared, and to see those words described as “a healing balm” and “literary art”… it truly touched me. It’s like you reached into my heart and reminded me of why I write in the first place.

Lately, I’ve been battling self-doubt, wondering if my voice still mattered in the noise of it all. But this win, this beautiful recognition, has breathed new life into my belief in my gift. It reminded me that storytelling still matters. That my storytelling still matters.

And that imagery of me arriving with a manuscript at midnight, I will hold that in my heart forever. Thank you for seeing me, for seeing the art in my words, for opening the door.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. 💛