My name is Simone. I am half Spanish, half Italian, and I grew up in the heart of Brussels until I was 17. My life took me to Germany for my studies, a land that promised new beginnings and endless opportunities. However, no matter where I went, I always felt like a foreigner. I was a mosaic of cultures, never quite fitting into one. Brussels, my hometown, was the only place where my heart truly felt at ease, the one place that embraced all parts of me.
In the midst of this journey, life threw me a challenge I never saw coming. I fell ill after a prolonged battle with long COVID, which left me with a reversible but severe damage to my heart. The fragility of life became my constant companion as I faced the daunting reality of a 12-hour surgery. The odds were stacked against me, with more chances of slipping away than surviving. I returned to my parents’ home, a place of refuge and comfort, yet also a reminder of the fragility of life and the strength we find in love and family.
The night before the surgery felt like an eternity. Time slowed down, each minute stretching into the next. My mind wandered to all the places I had lived, all the identities I had worn, and the sense of belonging I had longed for. As I lay there, the thought of possibly not waking up forced me to reflect deeply on my existence.
In those moments, I realized that belonging is not just about geography or cultural identity. It is about the connections we forge and the love we share. My heart, though physically damaged, was full of the experiences, the laughter, the tears, and the stories from Brussels to Germany and back. The surgery was not just a fight for my life; it was a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the profound impact of every person who had touched my journey.
The surgery was a blur, a dance between life and death, where the lines often blurred. When I awoke, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. I had faced the odds and emerged on the other side. Life had given me another chance, and with it, a profound understanding that belonging is found within ourselves. It is the courage to embrace our complex identities, the strength to connect with others despite our differences, and the grace to find home within our hearts.