Unscathed

Response to Prompt #62--The Unbirthday Approach 

Some will call me lucky; others will say I've crafted the life I wanted. I say it's a healthy dose of both. And, reflecting on that lead me to this. 

Unscathed

She is not without wounds, 

most hidden, a few exposed for the world to witness.

Yet, she came through it all--unscathed. 

It's always her choice what she shares and what she conceals,

to whom she bears her soul and who she guards herself from.

She reads these people well, sniffs them out with keen intuition--

every once and a while misjudging, and regretting it.

But, she dusts herself off, holds her head high, and moves along, 

often with guilt, but more recently, unapologetically. 

It could be worse, she used to whisper to herself,

I should be grateful for my life, she chides.

And while that may be true, learning to acknowledge her pain,

breathing life into it so she can confront it, make peace with it,

has set her free. 

Now, she approaches a new part of her life,

finally making time for herself, prioritizing things that serve her,

but still holding onto some things that do not.

New worries surface, a storm of potential wounds swirl overhead.

Will she come through it all--unscathed?

Perhaps not, but breathing life into the pain, confronting it,

making peace with it, 

will set her free.