Through Fire & Ashes

Stories

Page 3 of 18, newest stories first.

• Jeanette S.

  Vidja, Sweden · YouTube: nemo6666 (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  My mom told me that she didn't love me, she never wanted me. She loves my sisters. It hurts in my soul not to be loved. My dad died many years ago. I don't trust people. I became homeless when I was 15 years old.

  What glows

  In 2009 I gave birth to my son, and I get and give love to my child that I didn't think I would get to experience. My dogs and cats have also always meant a lot to me. Their love is pure and genuine.

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  What burned (original)

  Min mamma sa till mig att hon inte älskade mig, hon ville aldrig ha mig. Hon älskar mina systrar. Det gör ont i min själ att inte vara älskad. Min pappa dog för många år sedan. Jag litar inte på människor. Jag blev hemlös när jag var 15 år.

  What glows (original)

  År 2009 födde jag min son och jag får och ger kärlek till mitt barn som jag inte trodde jag skulle få uppleva. Mina hundar och katter har också alltid betytt mycket för mig. Deras kärlek är ren och äkta.

  Track

  Wireless

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• Jeanette S.

  Hassleholm, Sweden · YouTube: nemo6666 (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  My mom told me when I was a child that she didn't love me. She didn't take care of me, but she loved my two sisters. She said she never wanted me. I became homeless when I was 15 years old. My dad was not in my life, so I was an orphan and had to learn to take care of myself early. I learned that I can't trust people.

  What glows

  In 2009 I gave birth to my son and he means everything to me. I give and receive love that I never believed existed. My dogs and cats have also helped me survive with unconditional love. I am grateful to be able to give, feel and receive love from my child and from my dogs and cats.

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  What burned (original)

  Min mamma talade om för mig när jag var ett barn att hon inte älskade mig. Hon tog inte hand om mig, men hon älskade mina två systrar. Hon sa att hon aldrig velat ha mig. Jag blev hemlös när jag var 15 år. Min pappa fanns inte i mitt liv så jag var föräldralös och fick lära mig ta hand om mig själv tidigt. Jag lärde mig att jag kan inte lita på människor.

  What glows (original)

  År 2009 födde jag min son och han betyder allt för mig. Jag ger och får kärlek som jag aldrig trodde fanns. Mina hundar och katter har också hjälpt mig att överleva med ovillkorlig kärlek. Jag är tacksam över att få kunna ge, känna och få kärlek från mitt barn och från mina hundar och katter.

  Track

  Wireless

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• Naomi B.

  Leiderdorp, Netherlands

  What burned

  Being forced to play a role of someone others wanted me to be, but not being able to be myself for the longest time

  What glows

  Starting to take care of me and what I wanted and needed to be happy

  Track

  Don't Pray for Me

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• Roland R.

  Kassel, Germany

  What burned

  My mother died this year after a long illness.

  What glows

  It may sound silly, but my husky Archie. Thanks to him I still had to get up, go outside and take care of him and myself.

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  What burned (original)

  Meine Mutter starb dieses Jahr nach langer Krankheit.

  What glows (original)

  Es klingt vielleicht albern, aber mein Husky Archie. Dank ihm musste ich trotzdem aufstehen, raus gehen und mich um ihn und mich kümmern.

  Track

  Sing Like A Siren

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• Patrick B.

  Bern, Switzerland · Facebook: paidinfinnegan (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  In 2014 I had a burnout. Back then I gave everything for my job and my relationship, drained myself, and in the end lost everything. I checked myself into a psychiatric clinic. 6 weeks inpatient; 10 weeks outpatient. I was pretty much at "rock bottom". Being lied to and cheated on for 2 years by someone is something so profound. My worldview at the time, that everyone means well for me, was badly shaken.

  What glows

  In therapy I learned a lot. Of course techniques, methods for self-regulation. I learned to notice my needs, to take them seriously, and to say "no". But what ultimately helped me out of the low was the music of Within Temptation. Especially the song "The Whole World Is Watching". That was my song, someone was telling my life and my story here. The song gave me so much strength, and still does today. It saved my life.

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  What burned (original)

  Im Jahr 2014 hatte ich ein Burnout. Ich habe damals für Beruf und Beziehung alles gegeben, mich ausgelaugt und am Ende alles verloren. Ich habe mich selbst in eine psychiatrische Klinik begeben. 6 Wochen Stantionär; 10 Wochen ambulant. Ich war ziemlich «Rock bottom». Von jemandem 2 Jahre belogen und betrogen zu werden ist etwas so tiefgreifendes. Mein damaliges Weltbild, das es alle Menschen nur gut meinen mit mir, kam sehr ins Wanken.

  What glows (original)

  In der Therapie habe ich vieles gelernt. Natürlich Techniken, Methoden zur Selbstregulation. Ich habe gelernt mich, meine Bedürfnisse wahrzunehmen und ernst zu nehmen und «nein» zu sagen. Doch was mir schlussendlich sehr aus dem Tief rausgeholfen hat, war die Musik von Within Temptation. Insbesondere der Song «The whole world is watching». Das war mein Song, jemand erzählte hier mein Leben und meine Geschichte. Der Song gab und gibt mir so viel Kraft, noch heute. Er hat mir das Leben gerettet

  Track

  The Reckoning

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• Chris K.

  London, United Kingdom

  What burned

  I went through drag addiction and alcoholism.

  What glows

  I'm now 9 months sober, and never been more happier.

  Track

  Ritual

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• Ramona J.

  Bowil, Switzerland · Facebook: RaikaZSNEK (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  The universe guides you along your path, even when it is deeply painful and you come close to facing death. You begin to doubt yourself and think you have to change for others—a conflict between doubt and heartache.

  What glows

  But my sister, my responsibility for my cats, and the love I have for them brought light back into my life. I will stay true to who I am: a fighter. I will always fight for my ideals, because love—in whatever form—is the strongest force of all. Keep telling the universe what you wish for, from the bottom of your heart, and it will happen when you are ready for it. The words of my former teacher—“Where there’s a will, there’s a way”—have shaped my life and continue to do so.

  Track

  Ritual

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• Adrian B.

  Bydgoszcz, Poland

  What burned

  At my school, instead of learning, I was just trying to survive. The other students would constantly insult me, but at that school, even the teachers and the principal humiliated me. On top of that, I had an accident, constant arguments with my parents, and broken friendships because of their lies. Because of everything I went through,I lost my self-confidence, my faith, and my ability to trust people.I became empty inside,and I even wanted to end it all because nothing made sense to me anymore.

  What glows

  Throughout all these years, as I walked through fire and flames, watching everything around me fall apart, seeing people change beyond recognition, and witnessing lies everywhere, music was what helped me keep going. It always gave me strength and allowed me to see everything from a different perspective. It taught me that the truth, even when painful, is the most important thing. Maybe I'm heartless now, but at least I'm still standing and i'm still Stand my ground.

  Track

  Raise Your Banner

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• Mark R.

  Craigavon, Northern Ireland, UK., United Kingdom · Facebook: mark.robinson.18041092 (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  I lost my Dad the day before my birthday last year, the hardest thing I've gone through in my life. Added to that I've been dealing with moderate to severe depression for most of the last 15 years.

  What glows

  I still have my Mum and older Brother, I have my own house, I have heat, a bed to sleep in, food in my body, there are so many who can't even say that in today's world and I recognize that, and how lucky I am in comparison.

  Track

  Sing Like A Siren

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• A S.

  São Paulo, Brazil

  What burned

  For days I feel a sadness so deep that I feel nothing matters, life has no meaning and all I want is for it to end. On days like this I only wish to die. The worst part is that there is no reason, I'm usually fine and suddenly this bad feeling comes. I try to hide it so that sometimes they don't notice, because usually they don't understand. I feel like I'm just waiting for the day everything ends, I don't feel like I'm really living.

  What glows

  My family gives me strength not to give up, because I don't want to cause them pain. Having some hobbies helps me distract myself and pass the time.

  Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of A S.

  What burned (original)

  Tem dias que sinto uma tristeza tão profunda que sinto que nada importa, a vida não tem sentido e tudo que quero é que acabe, em dias assim só desejo morrer. O pior é que não tem um motivo, geralmente estou bem e de repente vem esse sentimento ruim. Tento disfarçar para que as vezes não percebam, porque geralmente elas não entendem. Sinto que estou apenas esperando o dia que tudo acabe, não sinto que estou vivendo de verdade.

  What glows (original)

  Minha família me dá forças para não desistir, porque não quero causar uma dor neles. Ter alguns hobbies me ajuda a me distrair e passar o tempo.

  Track

  Sing Like A Siren

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• S W.

  Lincoln, United States

  What burned

  After I was sexually assaulted… It revealed some big changes in the way that I thought and lived and loved…

  What glows

  It strengthened my spirit because I was angry, and then I was gonna become stronger than that with my determination never to have it happen again. We have no control over everything. But we can control the way we go through things. The sadness, And ultimately the strength to work through some of it emerged even though you always carry some other parts of it. But the joy comes back in life when I draw and paint and do photography. And this is how I deal with some of the aspects of that time now.

  Track

  Ice Queen

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• Rhea M.

  Muscat, Oman

  What burned

  I ignored myself for so long I lost everything but the roof over my head. My health, my career, my loves and my will to live.

  What glows

  A belief that there is something out there that will watch over me as I climb out of this to find myself and my place in the world. I belong here, and I will find a way to help others feel like they belong too.

  Track

  The Purge

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• João Pedro R.

  Lisbon, Portugal · Instagram: joaopedrodrigues (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  My mother had an accident three weeks ago and broke her spine. She will be left paraplegic, but she is still fighting for her life every single day at the hospital. The life we once knew has burned.

  What glows

  My love for her shines brighter than I ever thought possible, and I will do everything in my power to give her the best quality of life possible.

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• mike S.

  New berlin, United States

  What burned

  For many years, I went through life, wanting to explore the world. But the idea of getting on any type of air transportation was something I could not put myself through. Eventually, I was able to take a very small trip and have a tattoo with the type of plane and day tattooed across my heart. I use that as a reminder that I can conquer anything.

  What glows

  Everything is still good, and I have traveled to a great many places now even though that fear is still lingers inside of me

  Track

  The Reckoning

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• Bailey S.

  Deloraine, Australia · Instagram: boodledog16 (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  I've been through many family conflicts, some quite traumatic, which has not only changed me, but the relationships with people once very close to me. I've also learned the hard way how to be 'human' through so much trial and error. It has been extremely taxing. I've lost a lot of pieces of me, and have struggled with my own mental health throughout these challenges.

  What glows

  My spirit hasn't left, and I continue to help my family and grow as a person. It's been a very tough last few years, but I still push forwards. I won't let the things of my past and my struggles hold me back.

  Track

  Raise Your Banner

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• Drew T.

  New York, United States

  What burned

  Financial stress, an OCD diagnosis, my mother getting us evicted from our co-owned apartment and her cancer diagnosis. Dealing with the guilt of her diagnosis while cutting ties at the same time.

  What glows

  My dogs. My sister. My cats. Everything in life I’d miss out on if I was gone. Realizing that cutting ties was the best thing to happen for me.

  Track

  Wireless

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• Pascale P.

  Grave, Netherlands

  What burned

  In May Pam passed away. 46 years old. The silence is deafening and cuts. Days without her are a contest. I miss all my stories that I only shared with her, just like her advice. Although I know very well what her advice would have been. Our late night calls. I scroll through memories from all the years we've been together. I have her voice in videos and recordings that I listen to. It hurts, missing her, but I will never forget our trip down memory lane.

  What glows

  I met a new man at the memorial place I set up for my deceased girlfriend in Uppsala. On the burial mound Freya, a real Viking man. Two ravens above us and a beautiful sunset. July 29.

  Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Pascale P.

  What burned (original)

  In mei overleed Pam. 46 jaar. De stilte is oorverdovend en snijd. Dagen zonder is een contest. Al m’n verhalen die ik alleen deelde met haar mis ik, net als haar adviezen. Al weet ik goed wat haar adviezen waren geweest. Onze late night calls. Ik scroll door herinneringen van al de jaren ben ze aant bundelen. Haar stem heb ik in filmpjes en opnames waar ik naar luister. Het doet pijn, haar missen, maar zal onze trip down memory lane nooit vergeten.

  What glows (original)

  Ik heb een nieuwe man leren kennen op de gedenk plek die ik inrichtte voor mijn overleden vriendin in Uppsala. Op de grafheuvel Freya een echte Viking man. Twee raven boven ons en een prachtige zonsondergang. 29 juli.

  Track

  The Reckoning

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• Nicolette C.

  Boston, United States

  What burned

  I’m falling in and out of love with my husband of almost 10 years. I feel like I was forced to become a stay at home mom to raise our two kids and I am pregnant with our third. I don’t feel like I know who I am anymore and what I always thought I wanted in life is always out of reach.

  What glows

  My daughter is the reason I’m still here. She fills my cup and I feel a connection with her that transcends everything. That our souls will always be together in this life and the next and I’m sure the ones before this one.

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• Ashleigh F.

  Rokeby, Australia · Instagram: amfenton (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  I lost myself. I had to fight to relearn how to be who I was, and why I was that way. I lost myself mind, my memory, my body, and parts of my soul. The Ashleigh of before died, and I was what was left. A shell.

  What glows

  I had to rebuild myself. In that rebuilding, I had to confront the bad part of myself which was also lost. I had an opportunity, a clean slate, to realise why I did some of the things I did, and make another choice. In losing myself, I got to rebuild albeit with different stones, a new version, a better version to show who I am now.

  Track

  The Purge

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• Евгений Ш.

  Moscow, Russia · TikTok: 6.6.6lucifer6.6.6 (opens in a new tab)

  What burned

  I have been through a lot in my 33 years: pain, worries, betrayal, humiliation from people since early childhood. Problems in the family. I have withdrawn into myself. I don't talk to anyone, I have no family and no children. I live the life of a hermit. And more than once I have been visited by thoughts of suicide.

  What glows

  There is nothing. For me there is no normal life anymore.

  Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Евгений Ш.

  What burned (original)

  Я пережил многое в жизни за 33 года, боль, переживания, предательство, унижения от людей самого детства. Проблемы в семье. Я замкнулся в себе. Ни скем не общаюсь, нет не семьи не детей. Веду образ жизни отшельника. И не раз меня посещают мысли о суициде.

  What glows (original)

  Ничего, для меня нет уже нормальной жизни.

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• Filip K.

  Wodzisław Śląski, Poland

  What burned

  I am highly sensitive and for 7 years, until the 2nd grade of technical school, I was avoided and rejected by my peers. I lost my only best friend, who was hit by a car right before my eyes. I was criticized for loving to create and listen to metal and rock music in every style. I always helped everyone without expecting anything in return. In technical school I was betrayed by two close people when I was seriously ill; they recorded a video and sent it to me showing how they were betraying me. I found out that I have an incurable intestinal disease.

  What glows

  I had to face it. I came to terms with the pain in 2023, when on Easter holidays on television, with my loving family, I listened to the song "Bleed Out" in silence and bled out the years of pain. That was when my adventure of listening to the band began, and I found the self-belief that allowed me to move forward. Closeness to family is very important. But I understood: "The greatest strength is not born from how many people stand by you, but from how many times you can get back up when no one is standing by you."

  Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Filip K.

  What burned (original)

  Jestem wysoko wrażliwy i przez 7 lat byłem do 2 klasy technikum unikany, odtrącany prze moich rówieśników, straciłem jedynego najlepszego przyjaciela który został potrącony na moich oczach, byłem krytykowany za to że uwielbiam tworzyć i słuchać muzykę metal i rock w każdym stylu. Zawsze każdemu pomagałem bezinteresownie, zostałem zdradzony w technikum przez dwie bliskie osoby gdy byłem ciężko chory, nagrali film i wysłały mi jak mnie zdradzają. Dowiedziałem się że mam nieuleczalnie chore jelito.

  What glows (original)

  Musiałem się zmierzyć z tym. Pogodziłem się z bólem w 2023 roku gdy w telewizji w święta wielkanocne z kochającą rodziną posłuchałem utworu "Bleed Out" w ciszy wykrwawiłem się z lat bólu. Wtedy zaczęła się moja przygoda słuchania zespołu i odnalazłem wiarę w siebie która pozwoliła mi ruszyć do przodu. Bliskość rodziny jest bardzo ważna. Lecz zrozumiałem „Największa siła nie rodzi się z tego, ilu ludzi stoi przy tobie, lecz z tego, ile razy potrafisz podnieść się, gdy nie stoi przy tobie nikt.”

  Track

  Raise Your Banner

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• Artur D.

  Surgut, Russia

  What burned

  Growing up after losing my father too early and carrying quiet fear for my aging family's fading health. Living in a body that rarely gives me a break—fighting severe chronic spine pain and going through a heart procedure before thirty. On top of that, surviving deep betrayal in my relationship that shattered my self-worth, while feeling isolated in an unforgiving environment where you constantly have to hide parts of yourself just to get by.

  What glows

  Pure stubbornness—refusing to give up when running purely on willpower. Finding the strength to rebuild trust and choose love again after hitting rock bottom instead of walking away. Holding onto the dream of mastering my voice, writing an album, and standing on stage. Loyal friends who kept me anchored, the vision of a warmer life by the sea with trips to the Norwegian fjords, and Within Temptation—whose music has been my steady light for 15 years. My spark is still here.

  Track

  Sing Like A Siren

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• Em W.

  Bedford, United Kingdom

  What burned

  Losing my 5 year old dog Woody to chronic pain this year. Miss my side kick everyday.

  What glows

  Although how hard it is seeing how strong I’ve become and I am handling things.

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• N T.

  Jyväskylä, Finland

  What burned

  I have lost a lot along the way, people, experiences... Struggled with serious mental health issues.

  What glows

  I have learned from my experiences and mistakes and I have grown to be a better person.

  Track

  The Purge

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• Dmitry Y.

  Kramatorsk, Ukraine

  What burned

  War. There is no reason in 21th century to begin fullscale war. Every life does matter

  What glows

  Would be great to return to my lovely wife, daughter, dear mom

  Track

  The Reckoning

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