Breaking the Cycle

Forgiveness doesn’t come easy to me.

Maybe it’s because of the darkness I lived in—comforting shadows when the light seemed too far out of reach.

Books helped drown out the chaos of my environment—each page transporting me everywhere and anywhere but there.

Maybe it’s the secrets I held for far too long to protect the ones I loved.

The pain of not being believed—intrusive thoughts painting an unwanted image in my mind, regardless of time or place.

Forgiveness is difficult when I look at my past and feel I was never given such kindness.

I sit here, writing, hoping to let the past remind me of my strength and resilience—to not define my future.

So that, maybe, I can break this cycle.

Maybe I can teach myself to let the light overcome the shadows.

That others deserve kindness. That I deserve kindness.

Maybe I can be better.

I can love harder.

I can forgive.