Number-one bestselling author
It has finally happened.
After seven years,
I have been able to
break free. Part of me
expected to feel sad
at the loss, but its
been seven long years.
That’s time enough to grieve.
All day, there was a sense
of euphoria within me,
rising to the surface.
I compared it to an earthly miracle,
something you wish for
but won’t happen until
you take matters into your
own hands. Behind me,
I could see the chains
whenever I turned around.
They were tarnished and old,
but they were broken
and lay behind me, scattered
like bread crumbs leading
to part of my past.
I knew I would never
go back there, would never
revisit that part of my life.
On the way home, a man
kept following close behind
me. I would turn and catch sight
of him out of the corner of
my eye and then he would be
gone. When I got home, I
came into my apartment
and found him standing there.
Looking at him, I realised that
I was looking at my younger self.
I was downtrodden,
I was cut off from everyone,
I was alone, even though
I was supposed to have love.
Holding out my hand, I said:
“Why have you been following me? I thought I left you behind.”
He nodded, smiling at me.
“You did. Today, we’re both free.”
I watched as a light began
to build within him, filling him
with a brilliance that shone.
I was astounded to feel the
light inside of me that had
been building all day respond
to the light of my past self.
I looked at who I had been
and embraced him; he was still
a part of me. Part of who
I had become. I felt his
light enter me and felt whole.
He pulled back and looked
me right in the eyes.
“Never be ashamed of your past mistakes. Just embrace your future.”
He began to shine even
brighter and the chains that
were wound around both
of our wrists, the last of them,
glowed a brilliant blue
before breaking away.
He began to fade, but before he
did, he said to me:
“Have a drink for who you were, who you are and who you will become, okay?”
When he was gone, I stood there,
free and whole once more.
I would be raising a glass
filled with stars
tonight.