Sweet girl.

I mean that.
Not in the condescending way
that people so often say it in,
but in the same way I say it
to my hellbitch of a daughter;
she is my very valuable
sweet hellbitch girl.

A year of no is painful,
but what it does is invaluable.
It teaches you to protect
your boundaries and to respect
your well-being
above the delicate feelings
of people who don't really matter
in your life.

It teaches you
that you can pull through
all by yourself.

Write something down
where you can see it;
Even if this seems silly,
just do me a favor
and write it,
so that you can read it
and repeat it to yourself
often:

I will do it by myself.