Quiet Strength

I watched you shatter and break,

A storm of grief no heart should take.

Your already small and tiny frame

Folded, bent, beneath the weight of pain.

I watched a piece of you fade,

A light extinguished, a price love paid.

We stood helpless, words too frail—

What comfort could ever prevail?

So we held you close in silent prayer,

Gathering fragments scattered there.

I watched you move through endless gray,

Sleepwalking through each hollow day.

The world kept spinning, cruel and fast,

While you lingered, trapped in the past.

But slowly, through the cracks of night,

A fragile ember reignited light.

Step by step, I saw you stand,

Rebuilding life with your own hand.

How wrong I was to ever doubt,

The strength in you that fought its way out.

Piece by piece, you rebuilt anew,

A mosaic of courage, strength, and you.

Yumi, your journey is yours alone,

But know you never walk it on your own.

We are here, in awe of you,

For the bravery it took to see this through.

I see you, Yumi, fierce and bold,

With a quiet strength worth more than gold.

You faced a darkness I cannot know,

Yet here you stand, your spirit aglow.

We are so proud of who you’ve become,

For every battle you’ve fought and won.

Through tears and trials, you’ve found your way,

Turning broken nights into brighter days.

You carry his memory, yes, it’s true—

But life now blooms because of you.

Mau ‘ofa lahi atu, more than words can say,

And we’re proud of you every single day.

If someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges or experiencing suicidal thoughts, encourage them to seek help from a professional. You never truly know the battles others may be facing.

‘Ofa atu.