Joyce Tsemende
Bio
A storyteller sharing my journey of resilience, love and self-discovery. I hope my words inspire, heal, and remind others that even in solitude, we are never truly alone.
Stories (10)
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Unplanned, Unstoppable: How I Became a Single Mom and Rebuilt My Life
The Baby Kicks – The first time I felt my baby move and the shift it caused in me I will never forget the first time I felt my baby move. It happened on an ordinary evening, one of those nights when exhaustion and worry wrapped themselves around me like a heavy blanket. I had just finished eating, and as I lay back on the couch, my hands instinctively rested on my belly. Then, there it was—a tiny flutter, so faint I almost thought I imagined it.
By Joyce Tsemende11 months ago in Humans
Unplanned, Unstoppable: How I Became a Single Mom and Rebuilt My Life
Money Worries – The Financial Stress of Preparing for a Baby by Myself When I first saw those two pink lines, my mind was flooded with emotions—joy, fear, and uncertainty. But among the many thoughts racing through my head, one worry loomed larger than the rest: money. How was I going to afford to raise a baby on my own?
By Joyce Tsemende11 months ago in Humans
Unplanned, Unstoppable: How I Became a Single Mom and Rebuilt My Life
Facing Judgment – How people reacted when they found out I was doing this alone When people learned that I was going through pregnancy alone, their reactions varied widely. Some offered kindness and encouragement, while others responded with judgment and skepticism. At first, I wasn’t prepared for how much their words and expressions would affect me.
By Joyce Tsemende11 months ago in Humans
Unplanned, Unstoppable: How I Became a Single Mom and Rebuilt My Life
Doctor Visits Alone – The struggle of going through appointments without support The first time I stepped into the doctor’s office alone, I felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness. The waiting room was filled with couples—excited partners whispering to each other, hands intertwined, sharing in the anticipation of their growing families. I sat alone, my fingers curled into my lap, trying to steady my breathing. I had envisioned this experience so differently. I had imagined my partner holding my hand, sharing my excitement, and reassuring me when the nerves set in. Instead, I was facing it all alone.
By Joyce Tsemende11 months ago in Humans
Unplanned, Unstoppable: How I Became a Single Mom and Rebuilt My Life
The day he left, the air felt heavier, as if the world itself knew something was ending. The morning was quiet, too quiet, the kind that stretches between two people who have already said everything and yet nothing at all. He stood by the door, his bag slung over his shoulder, looking at me with an expression I couldn’t quite place—guilt, sadness, maybe even relief.
By Joyce Tsemende11 months ago in Humans
Unplanned, Unstoppable: How I Became a Single Mom and Rebuilt My Life
Standing Up Again – Deciding that I would fight for myself and my child I woke up one morning, and something inside me had shifted. Maybe it was the exhaustion of crying, or maybe it was the tiny flutter I thought I felt in my belly—a reminder that I wasn’t truly alone. Whatever it was, I knew I couldn’t stay in that dark place forever. I had spent too many nights drowning in sorrow, questioning my worth, and doubting my ability to move forward. But I had a choice to make: I could let my pain define me, or I could stand up and fight for the life I wanted for my child and myself.
By Joyce Tsemende11 months ago in Humans
Unplanned, Unstoppable: How I Became a Single Mom and Rebuilt My Life
The Nights I Cried Nights were the hardest. In the quiet, when the world had settled, my thoughts screamed the loudest. The darkness magnified my fears, my pain, and the aching loneliness that wrapped itself around me like a heavy blanket. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, listening to the echoes of a life that no longer existed.
By Joyce Tsemende11 months ago in Humans
Unplanned, Unstoppable: How I Became a Single Mom and Rebuilt My Life. Content Warning.
Slowly losing him The miles between us were not as significant as the changes in his voice and the way his laughter now echoed. At first, it started with a soft approach like missed calls, replies that took longer to come, and words that had a pause which wasn’t there before. I reassured myself that love like ours could not just disappear and life was simply in the way. However, the more the days became weeks, the gap between us began to turn into something that could not be felt or resolved.
By Joyce Tsemende11 months ago in Humans
Unplanned, Unstoppable: How I Became a Single Mom and Rebuilt My Life. AI-Generated.
The Two Pink Lines I stared at the test in my trembling hands. Two bold pink lines. My heart pounded, my breath shallow. This moment should have been filled with joy, excitement, anticipation—but instead, it was a storm of emotions, a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty. I blinked, hoping I had read it wrong, but the result remained unchanged.
By Joyce Tsemende11 months ago in Humans
Unplanned, Unstoppable: How I Became a Single Mom and Rebuilt My Life. AI-Generated.
The Unexpected Beginning I grew up believing in fairytales. Love, to me, was meant to be strong, unwavering, and built to last. I imagined the kind of love that would sweep me off my feet, the one that would endure through life’s storms. In my dreams, love was like those stories I read in books—soul mates destined to be together, overcoming every obstacle with passion and devotion.
By Joyce Tsemende11 months ago in Humans
