I lost it all
at that table, that night
dreams, hope,
maybe even a bit of myself.

But that
didn’t make me a loser.
You lose
only if you stay.

I stood up,
quiet,
broke,
but free.

I didn’t come
to chase luck
I came to face it.

And when luck
turned its back,
I turned mine too
on that room,
that game,
that lie.

I walked out
to find a better way
to win.

One not built
on cards,
but on steps
I take outside.