August came with a vengeance. A ferocious will to take and, my God, it took. I fought back, I promise. I put on my armor. Clenched my fists and swung hard.

It reminded me that I never stood a chance. It watched me stumble and stand back up over and over again until my limbs gave out. It laughed at my willingness to try and conquer. I laughed back with bloodstained teeth. It took more than the red pools surrounding me to break my spirit.

Now it’s September. I’m hiding away in a place I call home. I close the blinds and keep out light- my eyes aren’t adjusting how I had hoped. Nothing is a clear as it once was.

Grief has a way of blurring your vision and that’s okay too. I clean my wounds in private. Sew the pieces back together and remember what was. Come to terms that my skin will never be the same. And after all the damage- it was never supposed to be anyways. -AMT. ©️