The Story Behind the Painting This is me at four years old. Not long after I arrived at what would become my forever home.

By the time I came to this family, I’d already seen and felt too much. I didn’t speak much English, and I didn’t really understand what was happening—I just knew I was going to live with new people again. I was scared. Everything was unfamiliar. I didn’t know if I could trust it. But something felt different this time.

I remember the house. I remember the way they welcomed me—not with loud words, but with open arms and gentle hearts. That’s what made me feel safe. That’s what made it feel like maybe this could be home.

This painting holds all of that. The background is full of movement and colour—it’s my way of showing everything I was carrying. The fear. The silence. The hope. And the love I eventually found. Every dot, every shape, is part of the journey that brought me from that moment to now.

If I could talk to that little girl, I’d kneel beside her and say: You’ve been through more than most people can imagine. But you’ve got a second chance now. You’ve found a family who will show up for you, over and over again. You’re safe. You’re loved. And you’re going to grow into someone strong and creative and full of light.

We may not be perfect, but we have each other. And that’s what saved me.

This piece is painted on stretched canvas and comes ready to hang.