The fanciful and lofty idea of love engrossed me to the point where I ignored the pebbled path.

Holding my head high and believing in the integrity of a sacred union, I disregarded the fallacies.

Rose-tinted glasses only perceived unaccounted happiness and companionship of partners, overlooking the gray skies of relationships.

Trying to be the good girl, overwhelmed by every man’s attention, and always seeking confirmation from the family, I subdued my will.

In a never-ending struggle to be the preferred one and stay protected, I ripped the fabric of self-love.

An innate desire for a whole family inspired maternal love and acceptance of the pains & suffering of childbirth.

I blindly trusted my story & then came the intermission!

The tinted glasses lay broken; the genuine shades of life engulfed my being.

The pebbled grazed feet bled, an expressionless mind gazed, my shredded self-respect scattered, and a tornado of fear agitated the heart.

The trauma smashed like waves; the feet struggled with my weight.

Hearing cries, I shivered, understood it was me as my light traveled back to the universe.

The gifts of silence, calm, truce, wisdom, bravery, a wounded heart, and a stubborn gaze arrived from heaven.

Inner child, what is wrong with you? My mind wandered.
“I shall not be able to touch the sky,” she softly muttered.
Though I have dreamed a thousand times of flight, my clipped wings have not found the strength to glide.
I have lost my credibility and the few people who loved me.
Too many have understood my vision as folly.

The more I attempted to gain height alone, the more bruises I suffered,
I sought out strangers whose warmth brought comfort to my cold bones.

That night when I went down to rest, the angel interlocked our hands and whispered,” woman, breathe! You consistently have multiple struggles to beat. To err is human, the scars your achievements. Connect your life dots and admire the paths you traversed.”