Benchwarmer at Gnoll Lake I pictured a man on Pen y Fan,wind in his hair,heart in his chest,standing tall like he belonged on the peak. Instead —I got you. Gnoll Lake’s finest benchwarmer,packet of fags in one hand,self-pity in the other.Smoking like the Marlboro Man,but without the horse, the hat,or the backbone. Ok A knight?…

She drank to numb the past To give her introvert side more confidence. To give herself moral superiority To hide the pain she carried The self loathing she felt in happy couples.  Why did love evade her?  Because she was narcissist but couldn’t see it. I was the parentified daughter who let her darkness consume…

I Don’t Compete I don’t stand in the shadowswhile you dance with your past,I don’t play second fiddle,I was never built to come last. I don’t share a man’s attentionwith ghosts he can’t release,if you’re half with me, half elsewhere,then I’ll choose my own peace. I am not your maybe,your filler, your side—I am the…

Chapter 10 — Boundaries Broken Morning light slanted through the kitchen blinds, catching on the papers she had spread across the table. Rose sat cross-legged in her chair, hair still wild from sleep, a mug of tea cooling beside her. The chest was open again, its contents carefully ordered in neat little piles, though her…

Chapter 9 — The Ash Tree’s Secret The kettle clicked off and the house fell back into its slow evening hush. Rose stood in the blue room with the key warm in her palm. The desk looked smug, as if it had been waiting to win this round. Last week she had yanked and pleaded…

The gallbladder is gone. After a cancellation yesterday I went in and had it done.  Very sore this morning. Light food.  And bed rest. Turns out the stone was the reason I was emptying my bladder so often.  Today I feel no pressure whilst I wee so that’s terrific.  I thought I was just getting…

My Goodbye If I should go and can’t return,Please let my love within you burn.Don’t cry too long, don’t grieve too deep,I’m only gone where angels sleep. Remember laughter, not the pain,The sunshine more than any rain.Hold each other, strong and true,That’s the gift I leave with you. So live with joy, and love with…

MissT If I Don’t Make It Home If I don’t make it home tonightPlease know I walked toward the lightI carried love in every breathAnd I am not afraid of death Hold each other when I’m goneBe brave, be kind, keep moving onThe bond we share will never fadeIn every smile my love is laid…

No Shame There is no shame in bleeding.No guilt in suffering.No harm in crying.No pride in hurting. We are human onlyin what we feel,and in what we leave behindin others. Once,I felt only through pain.I reacted only with anger.But those fires were never mine. The hatred they flungwas a mirror turned inward.Their brutalityjust the howl…

The Art of Giving I bore the gift of endless giving,Yet drank no wine of my own living.The crowd’s applause, a fleeting flame,Chained my soul in gilded shame. In twilight’s hush I raised my plea,“To Heaven’s throne, look down on me.Grant me strength, O Lord of skies”The thunder spoke: “That strength is thine.” “Look upon…