in this story, your mother isn’t the villain.
in this story, you find a way to pick the lock, to wake up, to climb out of the tower yourself.
in this story, you’re angry.
in this story, you meet a dragon and
it is afraid of you.
in this story, you don’t need to be saved.
in this story, your mother raised you
to recognize a prison from a home.
in this story, they don’t fall in love with you before they know you.
in this story, they aren’t better than you.
in this story, you have claws.
in this story, happily ever after has bite marks in it.
in this story, you are free and terrifying.
in this story, you get away.
in this story, you bleed.
in this story, you survive.
You can buy Caitlyn’s book of poems “What We Buried” on Amazon.
PS. I apologize to anyone for whom bringing back Amanda’s picture on the front page is not beneficial for where they are in their grief right now. I just miss her, and her picture belongs here for me. I hope you are all doing okay.