If One Direction has taught me anything in life, it’s how to mend myself back together after a major heartache. However, usually it's the music that helps heal the heartache, not the band creating it that inflicts it. So what kind of devastation do you experience when you devote pieces of your heart to five boys in a band only to have it crushed, torn apart and demolished in return? Fangirls found out all over the world on March 25, 2015, when One Direction shared the news that Zayn Malik had officially quit the band.

I remember the day Zayn left all too well. I was shocked and couldn’t have predicted his departure even if I wanted to. I was too hung up on how I thought every issue within the band would work itself out and be fine. The boys were invincible, right? Celebrities who were on the top of the world where nothing could break them. Or, so it seemed. Sure, I should have expected it. There were signs Zayn was not truly happy and enjoying himself; but never did I think he would leave the band so unexpectedly when he did.

For days after the news settled in, I along with many other fans, mourned Zayn’s leaving and what we thought might be the end of One Direction. My favorite band was falling apart and therefore the world was as well. However, I was determined to get through the hard feelings because I still had four boys that I loved left and a chance to see them on tour that summer. There was no way I was going to let this be the end of One Direction.

For awhile, it was weird not having Zayn onstage with the boys. I'd see photos and concert videos of them during their world tour, but it was just not the same without Zayn. Yet moving forward, I was dedicated to supporting the rest of One Direction through thick and thin. I vowed to see to it that this wouldn’t hinder their success. The boys were in the middle of a world tour when Zayn decided to go down his own path and there was no way I was going to abandon them then. Like many fans, I stuck by One Direction despite all the questions I had that were left unanswered.

For weeks and even months fans all wondered why Zayn truly left. He claimed he wanted to be "a normal 22-year-old" but was seen spending time in music studios working on projects with music producers. For someone who was just leaving the height of pandemonium fame to escape the craziness of the music industry, a studio seemed like the last place he'd want to be. It wasn’t until Zayn started releasing new music that I truly came to understand Zayn and One Direction in a new light as a whole.

As much as it pains me to say it, One Direction restricted Zayn and his talent. While One Direction gave Zayn so many opportunities and experiences, the band also held him back from truly creating the music he wanted to. When Zayn auditioned for the X-Factor at the beginning of everything, he said he was inspired by music with soul and R&B flair—the opposite of a typical 1D song.

Zayn released his first official debut solo album "Mind of Mine" on March 25, 2016, exactly one year after his One Direction departure. The first time I listened to it, the picture of who Zayn aspired to be was fully painted in my mind. His new music is so much more lyrically complex and different than what he was producing with One Direction. It's so soulful, beautifully chilling and artistically creative. If this is the kind of music he was really desiring to produce then it’s for the best that he is out of the band and doing his own thing.

At first I couldn't understand why Zayn would ever want to leave the band that helped him create his career. I honestly avoided embracing his new music because I didn’t want to pour salt on wounds that still felt all too fresh and painful. However, resisting his music was becoming a nuisance as everywhere I turned people were talking about his album release. "Mind of Mine" was the talk of entertainment news and I finally had to give in to satisfy my curiosity.

When I considered the new album with a clear perspective, I realized how much my One Direction dedicated heart needed Zayn’s music in order to fully heal itself. Zayn seems so much happier doing his own thing and One Direction seems so much stronger together doing theirs. It's a win-win situation for both, even though they had to go through some hard things to get there.

I truly applaud Zayn for following his own direction and seeking out what he needed to do to fulfill his musical desires. They say every good thing eventually comes to an end and sometimes good things need to end so they can become even better. I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of seeing Zayn be a part of One Direction but that chapter has closed and new stories are being written and told.

Zayn's time to shine is evidently now as he continues to break through the music world on his own. With One Direction currently on a much-needed break after finishing up their latest tour, Zayn has the spotlight outside of the band to himself. Props to him for being bold enough to step out and do something uniquely true to himself. I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes in the future because after all, even though it took about a year for things to settle, this is clearly not the end of One Direction and it's certainly not the end for Zayn.