Touching Hope

Before I chose you,

I didn’t know how painfully sharp words could pierce

How deep their wounds would gouge

How altering the scars they left

When I chose you,

I didn’t know I chose

Slithering snakes hissing, wrapping themselves all over my body when I tried to move

Crippling spiders crawling, climbing up my feet each time I took a step

An owl hooting all night as I tried to rest

Salty water when deserted in the hot desert as I tried to quench my thirst

Rotten eggs broken and filling the air blocking my nostrils when I tried to breath

With you,

The ground beneath my feet was eggshells

Walls were sheers

Nightmares alive

With you,

The sun rained and the rain shined

Water blew and the wind ran

Fire fell and snow burned

Dandelions bloomed in winter

And lakes froze in the summer

With you,

I smelt fear

Tasted loath

Heard bitter

I saw pain

When I chose you,

I failed to see what was hiding in plain sight

Now I have chosen me

And I have seen the light

Without you,

I’m touching hope.