Imagine waking up one day
And slowly realising
That things you thought were 'normal'
Are not what they seemed.

I feel the soil crumbling beneath my feet.
I grab onto a root to steady myself
But that begins to slip between my fingers

My sense of self worth
Is defined by what is normal
And what is expected.
When I don't achieve this consistently,
I fall apart.

I grab onto a branch.
The bark is scraping my hands,
Tearing at my skin
While I try to hold myself steady.

I have always felt I was broken.
Strange.
A monster.
I thought this was normal.

My hands are torn
My muscles are burning
As my feet fail to find purchase.

I can't hold on any more,
I can't be who I should be
Who I want to be
Anymore.

Maybe it's time
To let go
And embrace myself.
I'm not broken,
Or a failure.
I'm just different
I'm enough.

I loosen the branches
My tightly held beliefs
Softened and soothed.
I untangle the roots
My shame, my past
No longer holding me back.
I take a breathe, and
I let go.

Weightless,
For a moment
I fall.

My hope and dreams
Stretch and unfurl.
I glide.

And finally,
My heart filled
With warmth
And love,
I soar.