As I Breathe

By Ayaan Ahmad

As a sixteen year old, there was times I held myself back. Not raising my hand in class for an answer at my fingertips or the fear of introducing myself on the first day of school. These are some things many kids my age didn't have to worry about. 

 

Eventually I stopped seeking help for my stutter; instead, I focused on embracing it. As a result, I started to see the world in a more positive light and found joy in the little things I had previously taken for granted. I now was living my life on my own terms, and I was finally happy. 

It wasn't an easy journey, and there are still times when I struggled with my stutter. But I'm not going to let that stop me from pursuing my dreams and living my life to the fullest.

• Language: English
• Publisher: True American Publishing
• Release date: Feb 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215273043

Ayaan Ahmad

Ayaan Ahmad is a sixteen year old boy who has lived with a severe stutter since birth and has rose above its negative impact.

Book preview

Prologue

One, two, three, breathe. One, two, three, breathe. As I tried to talk, the words won't come out. All I saw were their concerned faces. All I felt were my dry lips and my heart beating undeniably fast. As the tears from my eyes came rushing down, the tiny but strong droplets filled the script I was holding with shaky, sweaty hands.

That day all I could say was, Hi, my name is A-aaa-y-a.

Well hey there I am Ayaan. Ayaan Ahmad. I am a 16-year-old high schooler. No, there is nothing wrong with me, ten fingers, ten toes, two arms, two legs. I'm wonderful and healthy. But, yes, there is always, I was born with a stutter. Not a weakness. Not a disability. Just a stutter.

There was a time I held myself back. Not raising my hand in class for an answer at my fingertips or the fear of introducing myself on the first day of school. These are some things many kids my age didn't have to worry about.

I could feel the stress, the fear that felt like a burden slowly hurting my back, pinning me down against the ground. Day by day, conversation by conversation, word by word, stutter by stutter, breath by breath

All I needed was someone to pull me up, someone to share that burden with me. But instead, these thoughts made me feel weak like a burden on everyone else. Although they didn't make it prominent, I could see their worried, distressed faces as I had my long stutters or pauses to regain myself between sentences.

But then, this is my reality. So why did I need someone else's hand to pull me up? Why