A 7-day journal for when the wound has closed, but the ache never left. You've lived through things. Some painful. Some very painful. And you learned how to hold it together, how to move on, how to keep showing up. But sometimes, long after the story is over, the body still remembers. A tone of voice. A silence. A sudden distance. And before you know it, you're bracing again even when nothing's wrong. That's what The Ache That Stayed is for. This seven-day journal isn't about reliving the past. It's about meeting what stayed behind: the protective reflexes that once saved you, the quiet tension that never got to rest. Each day brings a short reflection, guided writing prompts, and a simple nervous-system ritual designed to help you notice what your body is still carrying, and to start letting it soften. You won't be asked to forgive, forget, or move on. You'll be invited to witness what's already here gently, safely, in real time. It helps you recognise how protection still lives in your muscles, your tone, your silence. How the reflexes that once saved you can soften when you finally start listening to them. Not to fix yourself, but to experience that what still hurts is simply asking to be met with awareness. What's Inside 270-page softcover journal, 8" x 10" format (20 cm x 25 cm) 15 pt font for ease of reading and space to breathe 7 daily sections, each including: - A short, emotionally grounded reflection - 4 guided prompts to help you notice without reliving - 1 daily body check-in: a nervous-system practice to anchor awareness - 1 closing Circle practice for integration Full-color design throughout The Seven-Day Arc Day One: When the past breathes under your skin Day Two: The reflex to protect Day Three: The silence that saved you Day Four: Wanting touch, not trouble Day Five: When your truth finds its voice Day Six: The taste of safe pleasure Day Seven: The art of staying with yourself Enter the Circle: A closing, voice-guided journey to meet the Bone Woman, the keeper of what survives A Voice to Hold You Each day includes an optional audio ritual: a quiet voice guiding you through breath, body, and awareness. You'll receive access via QR code to: ✨ 7 daily audio body check-ins: short, gentle practices to help your body feel what the words invite ✨ 1 closing audio journey: an imaginal encounter designed to integrate what the week has opened