do you know

how exhausting it was

to rebuild what he had broke?

the walls that he so violently tore down?

the fire within me that he slowly extinguished?

the shelter that left me stripped raw and helpless?

the mirror that he shattered,

that splintered into my already broken skin?

but now after all this time,

those constructs are remodeled and new,

refurbished with confidence I was deprived of,

upgraded with love for myself 

I never knew I could have,

supplemented by support I forgot I could fall back upon,

and no longer weakened

by the burden of wondering if I’m good enough,

because I am.