Member-only story
Poetry
Go Back
Go back to the person you knew yourself to be,
when you knew you were enough, before he tried
to convince you that you were less than nothing.
Go back to the person with the light in her eyes,
the glow of self-belief, the beautiful shine that came
from believing anything was possible.
Before your life became only an ugly reflection
of an unhappy person’s selfish will.
“I should have been nicer to you,” he said.
“I shouldn’t have fucked up your life
and blamed you for it,” he should have said.
Go back to the person who has every right to be happy —
You’re free to make the choices meant for you.
Go back, be happy.
He never deserved you.
Go back. Leave him behind.
Author’s Note:
This short poem is about recovery from narcissistic abuse. Although my lived experience is as a woman who suffered narcissistic abuse from a man, narcissists exist in all genders. Danger, Will Robinson. Avoid, avoid. Narcissists can’t be changed. Find a person who is capable of considering your needs and really loving you the way you deserve to be loved.
