The Cost of Survival captures the moment after innocence has been exhausted and survival becomes an act of resistance. The figure stands in the aftermath of violence—not as a villain, but as a witness to what was required to endure. Wings torn, weapons raised, and fire behind her, she embodies the truth many refuse to name: survival is rarely gentle.

This piece explores the thin line between protection and aggression, between being pushed and finally pushing back. It is a visual narrative about boundaries crossed too many times, resilience forged under pressure, and the internal war that follows when strength is born from necessity rather than choice.

This artwork does not glorify violence—it confronts the reality that survival often leaves marks. The Cost of Survival asks the viewer to consider what is lost, what is gained, and who decides when someone has endured enough.