Today is winter solstice in the southern hemisphere, or as seen in @barlowstreet’s this is me trying (at least I’m trying) half way dark! (linked below)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/55975855
“It’s the longest night of the year,” she says as the sun rises.
“Oh, you hadn’t mentioned.”
“That means,” she says, ignoring the teasing, “That we’re halfway through the dark.”
She keeps going. Winter fights and she fights back with bloody teeth and broken nails until she claws her way through it.
The first day she steps outside and it’s warm, it surprises her so much she can’t move.
She won.
Ellie lifts her face to the sun and lets it wash over her.
Winter will come again, and she has a feeling it’ll continue to be hard for her. But she won and she knows she can keep winning.
“Fuck you,” she says, very quietly, and goes back inside to take her jacket off. She’ll need something lighter for this weather.
I’m sure the experience of seasonal depression is quite a relatable one, one i too am well acquainted with. Reading this part of the fic settled something in me in the lead up to this winter season. Especially as it would be the first living in an entirely new place.
So, today I got to celebrate the fact that I’m still here, I’m still getting through and soon enough winter will give way to spring.
My incredible friend who came to visit me this week collected so lovely foliage for my solstice tree,
My incredible mother helped me to dehydrate some lemons to make a garland.
We went to my towns lantern festival.
& my pup even had a lovely time in the winter sun!
So here is my reminder this solstice, whether you’re half way through the light or the dark, you can and, you will make it through. You’ve made it through each and every time before, and you make it through each and every time in the future.
Happy half-way dark & happy solstice! <3
(& go read this is me trying (at least I’m trying) by Barlowgirl plsplspls)