Recovery by Keiran Elden (18, New York)

I am going to a place
Where I do not look in the mirror
And distort my own reflection
To see a broken little girl
And instead, I see a reflection
Of a girl who tried her best
Who persisted, despite
Everything
Who held herself together when
Falling apart was so
So easy
​

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I am going to a place
Where I do not apologize
For things I haven’t done
Or incredulously think,
Why?
When people say that
They care about me
This is where I take responsibility
For the path my life will follow
And the way I’ll persevere
It’s about time I realize
That maybe, loving me
Isn’t harder than loving
Anyone else

I am going to a place
Where I do not call myself
Weak
Or stupid
Or worthless
Where I do not hear those words
In my head every day
Where I understand
And I am proud that
I have looked giving up in the eye
And said,
“It’s tempting,
But I don’t think so”
​
(A poem
Without periods
Is a life
That isn’t over)