Exit Wounds

A poem about healing from childhood trauma

Illustration by majkenb.design

When I was a child the part of me
that was strong and brave
and protected me
saw the harm done by the ones I loved
I forced the brave one down into
the deepest depths
so that I could
survive

But over time the brave one
turned into a Monster
consuming me slowly from the inside
I am pulling it out
while raising a new part of me

Yet a child but she is brave
and growing stronger every day
But still—
I am losing so much blood through these
exit wounds