“Once you become aware, you cannot become unaware again.”

Sometimes, we encounter a truth so powerful that it changes us. Maybe it’s a news report about children being trafficked, seeing someone being mistreated, or learning about corruption. It shakes us. It opens our eyes. And once we see it, we can’t return to living the same way. That truth stays with us. It bothers us. It makes us ask hard questions.

Many people struggle with this. They feel helpless, angry, or sad. They don’t know what to do with this new awareness. Some try to forget. Others stay stuck. But some people with courage choose to do something, even if it’s small. They talk about it. They volunteer. They learn more. And in doing so, they begin to turn their pain into purpose.

“Shadows Over Phuket” by Brent Kunzler is a novel that speaks to this very moment. It’s about a detective who thinks she’s working on one case, only to discover something much bigger and more terrible is happening. Once she learns the truth, she can’t let it go. She keeps digging, risking her life to protect children who can’t defend themselves. The story feels real because it’s based on real issues that too many people try to ignore.

This book doesn’t just tell a story. It asks you, the reader, to think about your role. What will you do with what you’ve learned? Will you walk away or carry the truth and let it shape you?

We all have moments when we “wake up” to something bigger than ourselves. They aren’t easy, but they matter. The world needs people who choose to care, even after the shock wears off.

Because once you see the truth, you carry it. And that’s where real change begins.