The Quiet Boundary

She folded the letter and placed it in a drawer she no longer opened. Research shows that establishing boundaries with estranged or harmful family members can reduce chronic stress and support psychological well-being, especially when the separation is chosen for safety or health (Agllias 93).

Acceptance-based coping helps individuals process loss without reopening harm, allowing unity to form within the self rather than through forced contact (Hayes et al. 16). She stood taller afterward. Unity did not mean returning. It meant choosing peace and moving forward intact.

Works Cited (MLA)
Agllias, Kylie. Family Estrangement: A Matter of Perspective. Routledge, 2017.
Hayes, Steven C., et al. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Process and Practice of Mindful Change. 2nd ed., Guilford Press, 2012.