Because I Love ME

Because I loved him

My heart was caged, belonging to a single owner

Not myself, but to him

my keeper

My actions not my own

My words coaxed from my mouth

Following wherever he led me

he was my shepherd, but I was not his only sheep

Blinded by the greed of my master

I gave myself for the slaughter, though his stomach was full

I was his

But he was far from my

Grasp

Grasping at illusions, expectations, fantasies

Searching

Searching for validation, acceptance, comfort

Tumbling

Falling rapidly into a foreign persona

I loved him and I lost myself

I held on until my last finger slipped

I fell

Crashing down, down

The farthest I'd ever been

Until I landed

And warm arms enveloped me

The arms of a mother

A brother

A friend

They rose me up,

My support and my strength

And finally I rise on my own two legs

Like a phoenix I continue on,

Breathing fresh life with every breath