Remembering

[tok2long]

I gazed quietly at the face before me,
painted thick in drab, dull colors of sad.
Soul sick blue smudged around her eyes,
flesh, the unholy shades of abuse, pale pallor.

Tightly wrapped were her shoulders,
bound by the hand-woven blanket of bad decisions,
lost dreams and that elusive butterfly, love.

Pain, hurt and heartache were her only comforts.

"I know you" I whispered, more to myself than to her.
"Not your name or your face. I know the you inside.
I have lived your anger and hurt and hid in shame,
trembling, as fear of today destroyed all my tomorrows."

"I know you" I quietly repeated, gently moving closer,
"and soon you will know me." Smiling, I began loosening
her grip on that shawl of guilt, while telling my tale of
how it was and how it could be.

With all my love and respect to all Al-Anon's across the globe
Thank you for giving me back a life of happiness