Through Fire & Ashes

Stories

Page 17 of 18, newest stories first.

• Karolina M.

  Poznań, Poland

  What burned

  My grandmother survived the war, but never spoke about it. Only after her death did I find a letter in a drawer in which she described everything she had lost and asked that someone from the family read it one day. I sat with that letter all night and understood for the first time why she always looked out the window when it was quiet.

  What glows

  I read the letter aloud to the whole family on her birthday. We cried together, and then we told each other stories that had been hidden before.

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  What burned (original)

  Moja babcia przeżyła wojnę, ale nigdy o niej nie mówiła. Dopiero po jej śmierci znalazłam w szufladzie list, w którym opisała wszystko, co straciła, i prosiła, żeby ktoś z rodziny to kiedyś przeczytał. Siedziałam z tym listem całą noc i po raz pierwszy zrozumiałam, dlaczego zawsze patrzyła w okno, gdy było cicho.

  What glows (original)

  Przeczytałam ten list na głos całej rodzinie na jej urodziny. Płakaliśmy razem, a potem opowiadaliśmy sobie historie, które wcześniej były ukryte.

  Track

  Don't Pray for Me

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• Beatrice C.

  Napoli, Italy

  What burned

  When I found out I could not have children, I stopped going to my friends' parties because I could not bear to see their kids. For almost three years I isolated myself, convinced that no one could understand, and I let even the dearest people drift away without explaining why.

  What glows

  A colleague invited me to volunteer at an after-school program. Today I help twenty children with their homework..

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  What burned (original)

  Quando ho scoperto di non poter avere figli, ho smesso di andare alle feste dei miei amici perché non sopportavo di vedere i loro bambini. Per quasi tre anni mi sono isolata, convinta che nessuno potesse capire, e ho lasciato che anche le persone più care si allontanassero senza spiegare perché.

  What glows (original)

  Una collega mi ha invitata a fare volontariato in un doposcuola. Oggi aiuto venti bambini con i compiti..

  Track

  The Reckoning

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• Alejandro T.

  Bilbao, Spain

  What burned

  My father and I had a terrible argument the night before he suffered a work accident at the harbor. I did not apologize because I thought there would be time the next day. I spent three months visiting him in the hospital, and although he recovered, those harsh words stayed between us for years.

  What glows

  One afternoon he asked me to take him fishing like when I was a child. We did not talk about anything important, but when we said goodbye he told me he was proud of me.

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  What burned (original)

  Mi padre y yo tuvimos una discusión terrible la noche antes de que sufriera un accidente de trabajo en el puerto. No le pedí perdón porque pensé que habría tiempo al día siguiente. Pasé tres meses visitándolo en el hospital, y aunque se recuperó, esas palabras duras siguieron entre nosotros durante años.

  What glows (original)

  Una tarde me pidió que lo llevara a pescar como cuando yo era niño. No hablamos de nada importante, pero cuando nos despedimos me dijo que estaba orgulloso de mí.

  Track

  Ice Queen

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• Amélie L.

  Bordeaux, France

  What burned

  The day my daughter left home to study at the other end of the country, I sat in her empty room and cried for hours. I had not understood that my identity had been built almost entirely around being her mother, and the silence in the house frightened me.

  What glows

  I started painting in the evenings, clumsy things at first, then landscapes of my childhood. That helped me a lot.

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  What burned (original)

  Le jour où ma fille a quitté la maison pour aller étudier à l'autre bout du pays, je me suis assise dans sa chambre vide et j'ai pleuré pendant des heures. Je n'avais pas compris que mon identité s'était construite presque entièrement autour d'être sa mère, et le silence de la maison m'a fait peur.

  What glows (original)

  J'ai commencé à peindre le soir, d'abord des choses maladroites, puis des paysages de mon enfance. Ça m'a beaucoup aidé.

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• Oliver S.

  Rostock, Germany

  What burned

  After the fall of the Wall my father lost his job and never really got back on his feet. I was twelve then and learned that at home you do not talk about money or feelings. I carried that with me into my thirties without noticing.

  What glows

  Two years ago I sat down with my father and finally asked him how he felt back then. He cried, so did I, and for the first time we really talked to each other.

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  What burned (original)

  Nach der Wende hat mein Vater seine Arbeit verloren und ist nie wieder richtig auf die Beine gekommen. Ich war damals zwölf und habe gelernt, dass man zu Hause nicht über Geld redet und nicht über Gefühle. Das habe ich bis in meine dreißiger Jahre mit mir herumgetragen, ohne es zu merken.

  What glows (original)

  Vor zwei Jahren habe ich mich mit meinem Vater hingesetzt und ihn endlich gefragt, wie es ihm damals ging. Er hat geweint, ich auch, und wir haben zum ersten Mal wirklich miteinander geredet.

  Track

  The Reckoning

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• Greta L.

  Freiburg, Germany

  What burned

  When my twin sister lay in a coma at nineteen after a skiing accident, I sat next to her bed for eleven days and told her everything we had never said. When she did not wake up again, I spent years thinking I should have done something differently in that time.

  What glows

  Today I wear her ring on a chain and tell her what I see on every hike. The pain has not become smaller, but it has become something I can carry.

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  What burned (original)

  Als meine Zwillingsschwester mit neunzehn nach einem Skiunfall im Koma lag, saß ich elf Tage lang neben ihrem Bett und habe ihr alles erzählt, was wir nie ausgesprochen hatten. Als sie nicht mehr aufwachte, habe ich jahrelang gedacht, dass ich in dieser Zeit etwas hätte anders machen müssen.

  What glows (original)

  Heute trage ich ihren Ring an einer Kette und erzähle ihr bei jeder Wanderung, was ich sehe. Der Schmerz ist nicht kleiner geworden, aber er ist zu etwas geworden, das ich tragen kann.

  Track

  The Purge

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• Joris K.

  Maastricht, Netherlands

  What burned

  After twelve years as a cook in the same restaurant I had a burnout. One morning I could not enter the kitchen anymore, I simply stood frozen in the parking lot with my chef's jacket in my hand. I was so ashamed that for months I told my parents everything was fine.

  What glows

  My neighbor asked if I would cook for her birthday, and while cutting the vegetables I noticed my hands were calm again. Now I cook twice a week for a community center.

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  What burned (original)

  Na twaalf jaar als kok in hetzelfde restaurant kreeg ik een burn-out. Op een ochtend kon ik de keuken niet meer in, ik stond gewoon verstijfd op de parkeerplaats met mijn koksjas in mijn hand. Ik schaamde me zo dat ik mijn ouders maandenlang vertelde dat alles prima ging.

  What glows (original)

  Mijn buurvrouw vroeg of ik voor haar verjaardag wilde koken, en terwijl ik de groenten sneed merkte ik dat mijn handen weer rustig waren. Nu kook ik twee keer per week voor een buurthuis.

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• Femke V.

  Leiden, Netherlands

  What burned

  When my mother developed dementia, she slowly disappeared from our lives while still sitting at the table. One day she did not recognize me and politely asked who I was. That evening I cycled for hours through the rain because I did not know where to take my grief.

  What glows

  On her worst days she still sings the songs of her youth, word for word. Then I sit next to her and sing along softly, and for a moment she is completely there.

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  What burned (original)

  Toen mijn moeder dementie kreeg, verdween ze langzaam uit ons leven terwijl ze nog gewoon aan tafel zat. Ze herkende me op een dag niet meer en vroeg beleefd wie ik was. Ik ben die avond urenlang door de regen gefietst omdat ik niet wist waar ik met mijn verdriet naartoe moest.

  What glows (original)

  Op haar slechtste dagen zingt ze nog steeds de liedjes van vroeger, woord voor woord. Dan zit ik naast haar en zing ik zachtjes mee, en even is ze er helemaal.

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• Sharon D.

  The North Pole, Antarctica

  What burned

  Love burned. Love has a shadow side, a price. The more you love, the heavier the pain, even when it isn't done intentionally. It’s even more painful that some people will betray you even though they love you, knowing it will destroy you, and do it anyway." Life can change love and friendships but it is the way you deal with changes that will tell you how much they value you. Being honest is key and not being honest says a lot as well.

  What glows

  I believe in love. Love and memories still glow because for every major mistake someone makes, there are a hundred moments when they got it right. It takes courage to choose each other again and again. Walking away is far easier than learning from a painful experience and growing beyond it. I love Leonard Cohen's words: "There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." I will always search for a silver lining in life.

  Track

  Sing Like A Siren

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• Robert W.

  Twello, Netherlands

  What burned

  The darkest moments in my life have for sure been those where i have hurt the ones i loved the most. Those moments were always happening when I felt very unhappy and I had to rediscover again how I could live life for the years to come. If you are uncertain where you want to go and question your whole way of living including your relationship then that is going the hurt the ones you love the most. Ofcourse this made in also even harder for myself seint the ones I love most hurt because of me. Unfortunately Some times you can’t help to hurt other people What ever way you go and you have no other option then to go trough it the best way you can.

  What glows

  Even if its hard to do cause you dont want to hurt and damage the ones you love, i learned it can be better to open up about the doubts you have about your relation , about your uncertainties although painfull for the other it gives you both more opportunities and time then then when you wait till things explode. Being in those dark moments where I felt I would never find hapiness again and everthing Felt meaningless, hopeless for ever… I remembered two expressions …one from a friend who Saïd: When you are walking trough shit you just have to keep walking. The other one was from Tom Hanks who roughly said : Always remember…nothing ever will stay, not your succes, not your hapiness and not your Health, but also not your misery. This for sure has also been my experience in life and i know the highs and lows and everything in between Will always keep being there as long as we keep on going things Will keep changing

  Track

  Sing Like A Siren

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• Ruud J.

  Featured story

  Tilburg, Netherlands · Instagram: ruudjolieofficial (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  I’ve been diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), which causes severe tremors on the right side of my body. This has made playing guitar increasingly difficult, affecting my control and speed. After trying many treatments, I’ve had to adapt how I play and contribute on stage. I’m still very much part of Within Temptation, and incredibly grateful for the band’s understanding and support. I’ve simply had to find a different way forward.

  What glows

  FND has changed life beyond the band too. I’ve stepped away from teaching and session work and now work as a social worker between tours and recordings. It’s become a fulfilling new chapter I might never have found otherwise – perhaps the ‘glow’.
I’ve shared more in my book, In Spotlight and Shadow, but wanted to be open here too. I’m still making music and touring. One request: please spare me advice about miracle cures or alcohol. I know the risks and have explored the options. Thanks...

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• Nils A.

  Berlin, Germany

  What burned

  I had to file bancrupcy with my startup back in 2015 and needed to start from scratch

  What glows

  I got a lot of support from my friends back then and learnt a lot from the mistakes been made. Still feeling humble...

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• Akeem W.

  Berlin, Germany

  What burned

  One day I was riding my bike to the dentist, crossed an intersection, and suddenly heard people screaming behind me: a truck had run over an elderly woman on a bicycle - whom I had overtaken shortly before - while turning right, and dragged her several meters until the driver finally braked.

  What glows

  Life can end very quickly - one should devote oneself to what is beautiful and good.

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  What burned (original)

  Eines Tages fuhr ich mit dem Fahrrad zum Zahnarzt, überquerte eine Kreuzung und hörte plötzlich hinter mir Menschen aufschreien: Ein Laster hatte eine alte Oma auf dem Fahrrad - die ich kurz vorher überholt hatte - beim Rechtsabbiegen überfahren und schliff sie noch mehrere Meter mit bis der Fahrer endlich bremste.

  What glows (original)

  Das Leben kann ganz schnell zu Ende sein - man sollte sich dem Schönen und gutem widmen.

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• Kasia W.

  Wrocław, Poland

  What burned

  My husband died suddenly and I had to tell the children by myself.

  What glows

  The children drew a sky full of stars for him and hung it above our table.

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  What burned (original)

  Mój mąż zmarł nagle, a ja musiałam sama powiedzieć o tym dzieciom.

  What glows (original)

  Dzieci narysowały dla niego niebo pełne gwiazd i powiesiły je nad naszym stołem.

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• Giulia F.

  Torino, Italy

  What burned

  My grandfather died in the mountains and I could not say goodbye to him.

  What glows

  Every summer I climb to the same mountain hut and light a candle for him.

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  What burned (original)

  Mio nonno è morto in montagna e io non sono riuscita a salutarlo.

  What glows (original)

  Ogni estate salgo allo stesso rifugio e accendo una candela per lui.

  Track

  Ice Queen

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• Pablo R.

  Madrid, Spain

  What burned

  A traffic accident left me with a scar on my leg and a fear of driving again.

  What glows

  Today I drive again, and that scar reminds me that I am still here.

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  What burned (original)

  Un accidente de tráfico me dejó una cicatriz en la pierna y miedo a volver a conducir.

  What glows (original)

  Hoy conduzco otra vez, y esa cicatriz me recuerda que sigo aquí.

  Track

  Raise Your Banner

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• Camille D.

  Marseille, France

  What burned

  I lost my husband in a motorcycle accident, two months before our wedding anniversary.

  What glows

  I keep his motorcycle and every summer I take it to see the sea, as he wanted.

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  What burned (original)

  J'ai perdu mon mari dans un accident de moto, deux mois avant notre anniversaire de mariage.

  What glows (original)

  Je garde sa moto et chaque été je l'emmène voir la mer, comme il le voulait.

  Track

  Don't Pray for Me

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• Matthias R.

  Nürnberg, Germany

  What burned

  The call in the middle of the night that my mother had suffered a stroke.

  What glows

  In the last two weeks with her we said everything that mattered.

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  What burned (original)

  Der Anruf mitten in der Nacht, dass meine Mutter einen Schlaganfall hatte.

  What glows (original)

  In den letzten zwei Wochen mit ihr haben wir uns alles gesagt, was wichtig war.

  Track

  The Purge

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• Sarah M.

  Toronto, Canada

  What burned

  The diagnosis that changed every plan I had for the next five years.

  What glows

  The people who showed up without being asked. I never knew how many there were.

  Track

  Don't Pray for Me

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• Olivia C.

  Bristol, United Kingdom

  What burned

  I spent a year pretending everything was fine after I lost my best friend.

  What glows

  Telling the truth out loud for the first time, to a stranger on a night train.

  Track

  Raise Your Banner

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• Isabel M.

  Ciudad de México, Mexico

  What burned

  I lost my voice for a year after surgery. I am a teacher.

  What glows

  My students learned sign language to talk with me.

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  What burned (original)

  Perdí la voz durante un año después de una operación. Soy maestra.

  What glows (original)

  Mis alumnos aprendieron lengua de señas para hablar conmigo.

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• Kasper J.

  Antwerpen, Belgium

  What burned

  A failed business and a mountain of debt I was too proud to talk about.

  What glows

  I finally told my family. Nobody judged me, they only asked how they could help.

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  What burned (original)

  Een mislukte zaak en een berg schulden waar ik te trots voor was om over te praten.

  What glows (original)

  Ik vertelde het eindelijk aan mijn familie. Niemand oordeelde, ze vroegen alleen hoe ze konden helpen.

  Track

  Sing Like A Siren

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• Lukáš N.

  Praha, Czechia

  What burned

  I was bullied at school for years and carried the shame through adulthood.

  What glows

  Today I coach a youth team and make sure nobody stands alone.

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  What burned (original)

  Ve škole mě roky šikanovali a stud jsem nosil celou dospělost.

  What glows (original)

  Dnes trénuji mládežnický tým a hlídám, aby nikdo nestál bokem.

  Track

  Don't Pray for Me

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• Marco B.

  Roma, Italy

  What burned

  The family shop closed after forty years.

  What glows

  My father hugged me and said he was proud anyway.

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  What burned (original)

  Il negozio di famiglia ha chiuso dopo quarant'anni.

  What glows (original)

  Mio padre mi ha abbracciato e ha detto che era orgoglioso lo stesso.

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• Maria S.

  Lisboa, Portugal

  What burned

  The house where I grew up was sold after my grandmother died.

  What glows

  Her recipes. I cook them every Sunday and the kitchen smells like her again.

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  What burned (original)

  A casa onde cresci foi vendida depois de a minha avó morrer.

  What glows (original)

  As receitas dela. Cozinho-as todos os domingos e a cozinha volta a cheirar a ela.

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