When Love Wants to Fix What It Can’t
A mother wrestles with the ache of wanting to help—and the strength of letting go
I'm so worried,
I'm so exhausted.
I'm so tired,
I'm so scared.
I wish I could fix things.
Nope, you can't.
It's not yours to fix.
But maybe I could help --
You have been,
it hasn't.
I know,
I am sorry.
I just want to protect you.
I know,
but you can't,
not anymore.
Why?
I don't understand,
Neither do I
It is what it is.
Does it have to be?
Why can't I help?
You have been.
It needs to come from me.
I need to learn how to be me.
To stand on my own two feet
Without her, without him, without you.
Author’s Note:
This piece is an imagined conversation—a reflection of the emotional tug-of-war between wanting to help someone we love and realizing that their healing, their growth, and their choices ultimately belong to them. It’s about the ache of powerlessness, the urge to protect, and the quiet strength required to step back with love. For anyone who’s ever wrestled with the limits of what they can fix—this is for you.
About the Creator
Xine Segalas
"This is my art - and it's dangerous!" Okay, maybe not so dangerous, but it could be - if - when I am in a mood.
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Comments (3)
Yes. Standing back can be just as tough as being in the middle of it.
I often feel this way with my friends and family, so this resonated so deeply with me.
It's hard watching a child go through something you can't help them with