Photo taken by contributor Shelby Hall, a 22-year-old mother from Dallas, Texas. Before her boys were born, she had a difficult relationship with her now fiancé, in part due to his struggles with drug addiction. She suffered from depression through much of their early relationship as a result of being unable to cope. Loving someone with addiction can feel hopeless at times. She felt lost and unsure about who she was, and who she was trying to be. During that rough time in her life she found herself comforted and consoled by her photography. Shelby’s fiancé is now two years sober, and they are wonderfully happy parents. She loves having her photos to look back on. They read like a timeline and you can see the progressions and pitfalls through them all. They also serve as a reminder of how much stronger she and her fiancé are today.
About this photo: “When I took this photo I was trying to create something prettier than what I was living with. Everything I was going through was wearing me down to absolute nothing. I only felt safe in my room, by myself. I wanted to created this place, this “space” just for me. Something that felt better than where I was.”
Find more from Shelby at her blog.
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Broken Light Collective 
OMG I love this!! I want to be on that cloud!
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Reblogged this on O C T A G O N.
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So beautiful!
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Love that photo. I relate to your struggle. My eldest son is now a bit over 2 years sober. I get that worn down feeling a lot.
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Reblogged this on Journey Of A Nifty Day Trader.
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beautiful
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An amazing photo. Shelby shows herself totally relaxed and at peace, but not when part of day-to-day world activity.
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Reblogged this on themidnightcup and commented:
No I do not have words to make sense of how i feel when i read this. Thank you so much for sharing your story Shelby (even though i know you will probably not come across this). Love and Light to you and every one you love:)
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reblogged this 🙂 Thank you for the space you provide, across which we know that we are none of us ever alone, no matter how lonely it gets every now and then :).
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love this! very poignant shot
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Reblogged this on Jennethh's Blog and commented:
#innerstruggles
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Very beautiful. Like a dream!
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Reblogged this on Amy Rodrigues: Photography Blog.
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Reblogged this on Lauren Huckle Photography .
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Amazing story. You have such great inner strength. As a recovering addict I know about the damage I caused to others. Congratulations to your fiance on his sobriety.
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