A PHOENIX RISING

"Hope rises like a phoenix from the ashes of shattered dreams." S.A. Sachs

I didn’t choose this path.

It chose me.

All I wanted was to be happy.

You were a challenge from the get-go.

A charismatic charm that seduced me.

Love bombed by your endless texts and calls.

Gifted with my favorite flowers and champagne.

Flattered by all we had in common.

Unknowingly falling for a mirror of myself.

Then your wildly outbursts repulsed me.

The ups and downs twisted me.

The isolation from my sisterhood smothered me.

But I smiled and carried on.

There were days it overwhelmed me.

Yet, I bore the weight of your blame.

I hid your outbursts to protect you.

Cried myself to sleep from exhaustion.

Then startled awake by your control.

My bright-eyed innocence was dying.

I stood in the flames and watched it consume me,

Rejecting any ability to rise.

A warrior woman never evacuates.

That’s what the weak do.

We had dreams to chase and goals to obtain.

I refused failure and vowed to defeat division.

An extremely high price, I would later pay.

I screamed I was slipping.

Which you published to secure your position.

Still, I begged your forgiveness.

You claimed you’re the victim.

While you trapped me in a prison.

Silenced by those who should protect me.

And marginalized by a broken system.

No one there to support me.

While you’re courting your new target.

Broken, beaten, and bruised.

Left only to sit with my wounds.

They called me a survivor.

A word I’ll never use.

I’m simply not the darkness I endured.

My journey is often heavy.

Challenging days and sleepless nights.

Wiping tears and pretending it’s ok.

Sacrificing, compromising, chasing freedom and joy.

Imperfect in my own beautiful way.

Strong, proud, and tenacious.

A phoenix rising.

written by E.M.Harrison 2022