Softness Is Not Weakness

They told you to harden.

To stop caring first. To leave before being left. To laugh at what hurt.

As if coldness were strength.

But softness survived everything meant to kill it.

You still notice the lonely person. You still stop for the animal in the road. You still believe apologies should change behavior.

Your heart is not weak because it remained open.

It is strong because the world gave it reasons to close, and it chose to feel anyway.