Breaking Free
I moved across the country to leave you behind,
To break free of your bullshit,
And I’ve never felt better.
In the quiet of my new life,
I’m reclaiming everything I lost and had not found,
Every breath unburdened by your darkness.
But if our paths cross again,
If you somehow find your way back into my space,
I may just leave this dimension altogether,
Slip through the cracks of reality,
To escape the gravity of what you broke.
Here, I’ve built a life unchained,
I’m lighter here.
Each day a new beginning, a testament to my own strength.
The echoes of your presence fade along with the thousands of photos I won’t look at again,
Replaced by a freedom I once only dreamed of.
So, if fate dares to intertwine our worlds once more,
Know that my escape will be absolute—
A final leap into the unknown,
Where your ghost can no longer follow.
Heather Kays is a St. Louis-based poet and author passionate about writing since age 7. Her memoir, Pieces of Us, dissects her mother’s struggles with alcoholism and addiction. Her YA novel, Lila’s Letters, focuses on healing through unsent letters. She runs The Alchemists, an online writing group, and enjoys discussing creativity and complex narratives.
