Healing Together - A Poem

Broken, shattered, left in pieces,

Torn apart by pain and fear,

The shame says, “it’s your fault”,

No more trust, silent tears.

Innocence lost in a moment of force,

Upon a child too young to know,

Too scared to tell,

The line that was crossed.

Screaming inside, learn to detach,

Not giving up no matter the cost,

A fortress built, a broken heart,

Hating myself, splitting in parts.

His touch won’t define me,

Or say who I am,

I will reclaim my body,

Learn to love again.

A journey of courage,

A path long and steep,

With each step, stronger,

The will to shine again.

Though the memories still haunt me,

The nightmares linger on,

I will remember,

The strength to overcome.

For those who have suffered,

For those who still do,

You’re never alone,

You with me, I with you.

By Janet Bentley, May 2023