Bent But Not Broken Novels & Stories

“It bounced back. That’s not your fault.” “I just… feel guilty.” Tae Min studied him for a second. “Here,” he said gently. “I’ll teach you.” He picked up a ball and demonstrated slowly — bending his knees, lifting his arm, focusing forward. “It’s about balance,” he explained. “Bend your knees like this.” Haru copied him. “Then lift your arm.” “Like this?” “Yeah.” Haru held the ball awkwardly. “It’s heavy.” “You’ll get used to it.”

Not when she felt so sad and downtrodden. *****************************************

I said finally. “Do what?” “Be strong. Be free. Be… me. What if I try, and I still fail? What if I’m just broken?” Kael was silent for a long time. Then he said, “You’re not broken, Aria. You’re bent. There’s a difference. Broken things can’t be fixed. Bent things can be straightened. And I’m gonna straighten you, whether you like it or not.” I looked up at him, surprised by the fierceness in his voice.

Not owned. And not broken. That's what mattered.

I say glumly. “Why do you think that?” She asks, her tone sounding sad. “I’m broken and damaged. This should go to someone… who isn’t,” I say dejectedly. “You have been broken – physically and mentally – that’s true, but why does that make you undeserving of such a gift? The way I see it, it means you’re someone who can understand its significance and who will use it wisely,” she says as she locks her eyes with mine. “Did you know, when a broken bone is healing, during that time, that broken place in the bone becomes its strongest part? Being broken isn’t a personality flaw. It shows us just how strong we truly are.”

— But not broken, either. And this time— It holds.

And we had come out the other side — scarred, yes. But not broken. Never broken.

But less broken. That was enough. That was more than enough.