Diamonds Are Made Under Pressure

• Caitlin Mcgregor
• Short Story
• 2018

Have you ever looked around you and wondered about the lives that pass you by every day? The people behind the faces? Each one has a life, a family, friends… a story to tell. The thing about people though is that we are masters of pretend. I live every minute, every hour, everyday locked in an internal battle where strength fights weakness in a bloody duel.

But strength must win or weakness will consume all that I am, all that I have fought so hard, risked everything, to become. Weakness is a poison that betrays people you love. It tears at your soul until nothing is left. Weakness is a state of mind; you are only as weak as the point at which you choose to break.

Strength is the ability to endure beyond your own capabilities. Strength is hitting rock bottom and still clawing your way to your feet again. Strength is determination and tenacity. Strength is also a state of mind and you are only as strong as you believe you are. The difference between me and everybody else… I’ve endured more pain and betrayal then most people can dream off. I have endured the stuff of nightmares and yet here I stand, fighting for my strength. You know what they say though… Diamonds are made under pressure.