Loud and Free

She raised her voice in the empty street, letting it echo off the walls. Speaking freely and expressing identity openly has been linked to increased psychological resilience and self-esteem (Ryan et al. 128).

Suppressing one’s authentic voice, especially in marginalized communities, correlates with higher stress and reduced life satisfaction (Cohen and Wills 174). She shouted, stomped, and laughed, letting the sound claim the space. Freedom did not ask politely. It arrived with her, unapologetic and bold.

Works Cited (MLA)
Cohen, Sheldon, and Thomas A. Wills. “Stress, Social Support, and the Buffering Hypothesis.” Psychological Bulletin, vol. 98, no. 2, 1985, pp. 310–357.
Ryan, Richard M., et al. “Self-Determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation, Social Development, and Well-Being.” American Psychologist, vol. 55, no. 1, 2000, pp. 68–78.