When the strong one breaks (nobody notices at first)

They have mastered the art of portraying everything is fine.

They keep showing up.

They keep caring.

They continue to give when they have nothing else to give.

There's no glitz or glamour — no big theatrical moment, no booming thunder.

Just small cracks hidden behind the "I'm fine" and a smile thats always at the ready.

As the strong one, you don't know how to fall apart…it happens in pieces. It happens slowly.

You tell yourself your tired, you're having an off day, or you're simply overwhelmed. The truth is, it's been building for awhile.

Being the strong one didn't start as a burden. You felt needed, you were helping, you weren't doing anything different than what someone else does in that situation are you?

At some point, you stop becoming the helper to everyone and realize you need help yourself but who do you go to? Who is your strong one?

You make "I'm fine" look so believeable nobody questions it, when you start to break, you do it alone.

The strong one doesn't collapse, there's not one point where everything falls apart.

There's a tiredness no amount of sleep will help, a deafening silence that screams louder than the noise.

But people need you, people count on you and if you're not that person, who are you?

Falling apart isn't an option, you can't let others down. You can't fail them when they need you.

The truth is breaking isn't weakness, it happens when you've been strong to long.

You weren't meant to carry everything, you weren't meant to be everything to everyone.

Breaking isn't the end of being strong, what if it's the moment strength looks different?

Quieter.

Softer.

More honest.

Maybe it's asking for help even if it is uncomfortable. Maybe it's admitting you're "not fine," Maybe it's letting someone in to help with the load you've carried alone for far to long.