You arrived when the ground beneath me could no longer hold me

Abstract

This first-person narrative explores the experience of extreme vulnerability following physical loss and the process of identity reconstruction. Through an intimate account, it portrays the emotional impact of grief, the lived experience of an amputated body and the initial difficulty in envisioning the future. The presence of a supportive figure –steady, respectful and non-intrusive– acts as a facilitating element in coping, allowing the narrator to move through pain without imposed timelines or directions. The text implicitly addresses the therapeutic relationship, highlighting the value of presence, listening and trust in the gradual recovery of autonomy. Adaptation to a prosthesis and returning to work symbolize the integration of the lived experience and the reconstruction of meaning. A story of resilience, connection and recovery that invites reflection on the role of care in healing processes.