Girl Rising

When you get out of an abusive relationship, you need to come out stronger, in your own way.

Dull and lifeless

Slowly moving, leaden with your words

Borrowing into my skin, changing my image

Changing my view

Sickened with your insults, pale with your rage, frightened of your very voice

But still, in desperation I hold it close, dragging it in secret

Slowly, over time, your words caught and pulled

Stumbling away from me,

Creating brief moments of clarity.

As I fought to fill the empty space it created,

My eyes adjusted, slowly,

To this new light- this new view

This girl I had forgotten

This void didn’t need to be filled with you,

Not with your words,

And so I shed them, let them go

Pushed them away in a heap on the floor

This girl was free.

I was suddenly so new

So beautiful, so bright, without you

My heart glowed

Feeling sunlight on my clean shoulders

Freedom in my heart

This girl

She is finally

Rising