I’ve already conjured every insult

whispered them into the silent of the night

you can’t hurt me

not anymore

maybe that was never the point

or maybe we’ve let this drag on too long

the weight of it all settles into my bones like an old, unwelcome guest

i am my own fiercest judge

striking the gavel before anyone else can

every decision felt like a crime

every thought - a new suspect

my mind hasn't been a sanctuary for sometime now

resemebles more of a battlefield

where smoke and ash cloud any hope of clarity

if you’re wondering whether I’m thriving

i’m not

only surviving

breath by breath, moment by moment

i hear every venom-laced word

each one finding its mark - no matter how much I pray —"No weapon formed against me shall prosper"

but they do

every barb burrows deep

peeling me apart, piece by piece

until there’s nothing left but the raw ache of who I used to be to you

It’s okay, though. I’ll be okay. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.