I escaped and ran straight back to you
both of us pretending to forget why
until the last time
you piled so much trash on top of me
I did not know what was me
and what was trash
Eventually I remembered who I am
an imperfect woman who deserves better
I climbed out
I walked straight home
I did not break up with you
so much as I broke up
with a part of myself
that allowed myself to be thrown away
I decide what stays
and what goes
I am upcycling
becoming someone more
than the sum of my parts
Copyright 2020 Diana Shellenberger
