I LIVE BECAUSE I ALMOST DIED is a collection of poems that came from the in-between places�between girlhood and becoming, between silence and speaking, between almost leaving and choosing to stay. Written over years of growing up, breaking down, and holding on, these poems trace the real, often messy journey of someone who has lived through near-death experiences, heartbreak, self-doubt, and healing.
Avril Shakira Villar writes with clarity and emotion about the things we don�t always say out loud�what it feels like to be overlooked, to grow up with limited choices, to love too hard, to question your worth, and to keep going anyway.
This is not a collection about having all the answers. It�s about learning to ask better questions. It�s about learning to listen to your own voice when the world gets too loud. Each poem is a glimpse into a life that was almost lost�but wasn't. A life that continues to unfold with grace, grit, and an open heart.
For anyone who�s ever felt alone, uncertain, or unloved�this book is a place to rest. A place to feel seen. A place to begin again.