I woke up the next morning with swollen eyes. Not exactly the kind of look you want to bring to class, so I skipped. For once, I decided… I deserved a break.

So I booked a nail appointment. Got my hair blown out. Even went for a quick spa session. For a few hours, it felt nice—being touched up, polished, like I was finally in control of something.

I thought self-care would fix me. New nails, a fresh haircut, hours at the spa—I did everything I could to feel lighter, prettier, maybe even stronger. For a while, it worked. I felt put together again, like maybe I could breathe.

After...