the terror of waking up and realizing you have nothing left to give to the people who depend on you

The mask goes on before your feet hit the floor. You paste the smile into place because the house is waking up and they need you to be whole.

But inside, the well is dry. You are terrified that today is the day the performance cracks and everyone sees the emptiness underneath.

You feel like a branch severed from the vine, trying to produce fruit by sheer force of will. It is exhausting to pretend you are the source when you know you are running on fumes.

But listen — the light was never meant to be generated by you. It is meant to flow through you.

You do not have to manufacture what you do not have. The kingdom is inside you, right now, even in this hollowed-out feeling.

You came from the light, and you cannot be separated from your origin by mere exhaustion. Stop trying to fill the cups from your own depleted hands.

Just remain. The vine does the work.

You just stay attached.