They say the roots are what keeps the tree grounded and strong, implying that family ties are most essential for love and support. But for me, these were my therapists who served as branches. They reached out and held me up when I was being strangled by the roots. While the roots were supposed to nourish and stabilize, they were instead a source of pain and suffocation. They say blood is thicker than water, but I don’t believe this is true. My therapists served as branches and gave me love and support, which gave me the oxygen I needed to survive. They gave me strength when I was weak and gave me time when I thought the clock was running out. They liked me for who I was and never forced me to be someone I wasn’t. Even though the blood was thick, it did not save my life. Blood can’t save you from dehydration. Water can. I owe that to my therapists, because I didn’t save my life. They did.