I knew you when

I knew you when your skin was a blank canvas


I knew you when your soul was a flawless mirror reflecting the sunny sky


I knew you when you could still fly,


before your wings were clipped.


I knew you before the abuse harmed you...


turned you inside out.


I knew you through the dark years,


when your own hand reached up and became the abuser.


I knew you when the darkness snuffed your inner light out,


and you died inside.


I knew you in the zombie years,


where you walked and talked but were not there.


I knew you when you first sat on his couch and listened to his calm voice.


I knew you when he reached out his hand and said "You ARE worth saving"


I knew you when you thought he was lying.


I knew you when you stood with most of your feet over the edge


I knew you when nothing held you up and the lulling mermaid songs of the abyss beckoned you.


I knew you when you glanced over your shoulder and first looked at him,


as he repeated  "You ARE worth saving"


I knew you as you slipped under the surface and all that held you was his words.


 "You ARE a person of great value"


I knew you when you at last turned on your ears and really heard what he was saying.


I knew you when you stopped fighting the rope lowered down to save you,


when you stopped trying to hang yourself with it.


I knew you when the strength returned to your hands and you grabbed that rope.


I knew you as you fought and clawed your way out of the darkness


I knew you as you stripped bare the inner mirror and faced all the monsters in your reflection


I knew you when you battled with yourself


when the fights left you bloody and torn


I knew you when you fought to cut yourself free...when all you had to do was open the door and walk away.


I knew you when your skin was a map of scars


I knew you when your soul was a shattered mirror tentatively and shyly reflecting your soul


I knew you when you learned to fly,


I knew you when you learned your wings were healed.


I knew you when you took your power back


knew you when you live this all in one afternoon,


and over a years time too.


I knew you were not alone


I knew there were other struggling and fighting the same fights


now others know too.