life was a wasteland
a warzone, unconquerable
indomitable and cataclysmic
unyielding
it seemed like i was
d
   r
     o
       w
           n
              i
                n
                   g
i was trapped
and endless, fruitless cycle
borne back ceaselessly
to where i started
never able to reach the end
either too weak or too cowardly
to break out of the loop
fighting
yelling
screaming
trust shattered
deceit, betrayal

suddenly

she came in the most unlikely places
a soft, unrelenting light in the darkest of times
a smile in a crowd of ******* faces
a face, wiping away the lines
of worry. of fear.
of sadness. of pain.

she came unannounced, unexpected
slipping past my defenses, a thief.
made me feel accepted,
calmed my grief.
my fears.
my pain.

i'm not perfect, I never will be
but now there's a better part
of me that I'm starting to see
ever since we traded hearts
moving past the fears
moving past the pain