I Didn’t Know Pain Could Feel Like Control

The first night with my tongue piercing, I tried to eat soup and nearly cried. It wasn’t the pain—well, not just the pain. It was how careful I had to be, how every bite felt like a test I was failing. I told myself it was just healing, but honestly, I liked the excuse to eat less, to only pick at soft, bland things. I liked the way hunger made me feel sharp, in control, even as my mouth throbbed and my stomach ached. Every morning, I’d check the swelling in the mirror, half-proud, half-ashamed. I wanted the piercing to mean something, to be proof I could handle discomfort, that I could change my body and live with the consequences. But mostly, I just felt tired. Tired of pretending the pain was some kind of freedom. #BodyStory #BeautyBurnout #HealingHurts #Beauty