After-Math

Like tornadoes passed flood waters receded and hurricanes stilled he was gone- the 'worst was over' and somehow supposedly life got right up and carried on So they said, in time I’d get better I would forget it happened at all but they didn’t see the damage in me my soul left twisted mangled and mauled Whispers of past pain mindless manipulation echoing off my walls of alienation shrouded in shadows of shame- Cruel words curling around my brain endlessly repeating his refrain “worth-less” “use-less” “less” “less” “less” Subtracting from the sum of me until there's nothing left of me and no way- how to fill this space Like aftermath of violent storm he’s left debris and chaos behind and blown away the best of me Roof and siding torn off exposing the brittle timbers and broken framing of years spent blaming he was the cross I silently bore and now that I am finally free I’m at a loss to imagine more What it would look like or be made of- a home for a windblown wandering waif- place of comfort kindness and healing where I’d be whole happy and safe?