the road to healing

layers of shame
built upon guilt
peeling them back
the only way to rebuild

secrets held sacred
judgements of self
realized traumas
collected like dust on a shelf

fuel once used
as a driving force
echoed resilience
now hollow discourse

self-authored stories
told in spite of herself
of holding no value
reflections time never forgets

running a race
she’ll never catch up
her body weighed down
by false narratives spun

realization
of only one choice
sink under pressure
or stand up to that voice

joy isn’t something
stumbled upon
a rare falling star
seen so quickly, then gone

digging down to one’s core
is the only way up
self-realization
reflections she can now almost touch

bruises fade over time
ones seen on the surface
those buried within
not so easily purposed

salt on her face
trails of her tears
roads that she’s traveled
unveiling deep fears

the monster within
still lives in each part
but now shares the space
with her healing heart