at summer’s end you whisked me away 
in a magical place not far from here
a thousand miles, one year ago today.
and you took away something of mine
that I’ve been holding on for some time.

fall began and I continued to ride the wave
of toxicity that kept us going and going
and drove me to keep giving and giving.

the close of the year drove me insane
but in some sick way I craved the pain.

new year brought a clean slate and
more chances and reasons and excuses
that I kept giving because I so 
desperately wanted to be right –
to right all the wrongs that were not my fault.
to fix everything that was never right.

now I’ve ripped away every layer of protection
that I’ve painstakingly built up for myself and for you
because you see, I no longer have anything to lose.

So here I am rebuilding every part 
of me that got lost along the way,
and relearning love once again.