The Weight of Regret

Ah, the weight of regret. The burden of difficult memories from the past flows effortlessly and seamlessly through your days.

Look up; the sky is stunning—blue, sometimes grey, dark, and occasionally shimmering with stars scattered across its canvas.
Look around you: the trees—young and newly planted; old, reliable, infused with grace and kindness.

Look ahead: the winding path, occasionally straight. It is yours to tread, step by step, reflecting on the chapters of your life, page by page. A long, challenging journey awaits.

Look back at your past, those early days of your youth—innocent, curious, filled with questions rather than answers. Carefree, in love each day with nature, the moon, the movie stars, and the poets who were so enamoured, so fortunate.

The essence of your past, a time of self-discovery. Joyous, sorrowful, unfortunate, and depressed. Amid the waves of distractions that surround you, you have persevered—strong, resilient, wise; compelled to become who you are.

The recent past: the romances, both true and false, deceptions and purity. Experiences: sadness, joy, and a marriage whisked away by fate.

The births of your children—one, two. Desired, undesired. Healthy, ill. You faced depression, struggled, and felt it deeply. Time and again, you rose to your feet. You fell in love with motherhood. You achieved inner peace. You fought hard to reclaim your sanity.

Oh, so many regrets, sighs, wishes, and ifs, longing for opportunities that have eluded you, still lingering in your thoughts.
And yet, here you are, hoping for brighter days to come.

Shahla Latifi
June 2025