I seem to spend my time

Letting go of the road

Separating from the journey

And the drive that brought me here

There is pain in the remembering

That naive girl

Who had to choose toughness

Over remaining soft

Who had to learn to protect herself

Under fire

I wonder if she’s still there

Left behind

Walking down those roads

Where I had to lose her

Heading blithely

Into that confident future

She once imagined

Or if she is only sleeping

Dormant

Waiting to make a return

Somewhere deep within – Caroline A. Slee