What I Could Have Been (What I Could Be) is a short story and poetry compilation revolving around the concept of reframing common life events, relationships, and emotions through a different lens. Through each of the twenty-one stories, you'll come to see yourself, someone you love, or maybe a situation you fear, described and broken down in incredibly unfiltered, yet at times, achingly relatable ways. These stories may change how you have perceived a similar event that you've lived through or heard about, find comfort in the rawness of each story, and may even find a sense of understanding. Think of this collection as a letter to your inner child, as if you were describing to them all the hardships you will endure, in a way that they can understand. They will learn how to cope, how to overcome, how to heal and continue on. Their are four sections in total: "What Shaped Me" includes themes of growing up, cynicism, and learning that those rose-tinted glasses we are given as a child won't always stay clear."Mistakes, Promises, and Secrets Unseen" includes themes of feeling lost, broken, and worried of how you will keeping moving forward in darkness."In Everything I Do, I See Your Face" includes tributes to some of the most important people in my life, as well as themes of unconditional love, the worry of being forgotten, and the heartbreak that comes with losing those who you thought would walk with you for the rest of your life."From Within, I Find a Home; Somewhere to Belong" includes themes of overcoming insecurity, reconnecting with the little you inside, and learning how to heal and cope with the highs, lows and neutrals of life. All stories have an accompanying illustration that symbolizes something personal to me, but also how the essence of the story looks in my mind. Physical editions are printed with a slightly larger than typical text size, and with larger spacing between lines of text. This allows for those with reading difficulties, vision difficulties, and more, to have an easier time using accommodations, or simply allowing for more differentiation between lines of text to make the process of reading less overwhelming. It is my intention to make reading accessible for all, no matter who or where you are.