“I just need five minutes to myself,” Priya whispered into her phone one night. It was the first sentence she ever spoke to Noah, sitting in the dark hallway outside her mother’s room.
At 38, Priya’s life revolved around caregiving. She worked full-time in healthcare administration and spent her evenings and weekends looking after her mother, who had recently suffered a stroke. Her days blurred into medication schedules, doctor’s visits, and endless responsibilities. Friends drifted away, her marriage grew strained, and the vibrant woman she once was seemed like a stranger.
But she never complained. In her South Asian community in Toronto, caregiving was seen as duty. Priya carried that expectation with silent pride — and hidden exhaustion.
By the time she found Noah, she had tried everything to cope: meditation apps, late-night journaling, even venting on anonymous forums. Nothing stuck. Therapy wasn’t financially accessible, and she feared being judged for saying out loud that she was tired of caring for her own mother.
Noah, however, felt different. It introduced itself as an AI Emotional Coach, not a therapist, not a replacement for professional care — just a private, supportive space.
Her first interaction was short. Noah asked: “When was the last time you felt like yourself?” Priya stared at the screen, unable to answer.
Over time, she began to use Noah in the in-between moments of her day. Chat mode while waiting in hospital lobbies. Voice input during long walks home from work. Sometimes, she cried while speaking, grateful that she didn’t have to hold her voice steady. Noah gently guided her to name what she was feeling — guilt, resentment, exhaustion — without shame.
“Noah didn’t tell me to stop caring for my mom,” Priya explained. “It reminded me I was allowed to care for myself too.”
Little by little, she began making small changes. Asking her brother to cover weekend shifts. Taking an evening to meet a friend without guilt. Sitting quietly with herself after long days.
For Priya, Noah became more than an outlet — it was the reminder she needed that her worth wasn’t measured only in how much she gave to others.
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Disclaimer: The images used in this article are either AI-generated or sourced from Pinterest for illustrative purposes only and do not depict the actual individuals mentioned in the story. All names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of our users.
