Take that thing that happened to you and whisper it to your shower head. Let the warm water wash it away, carrying it down the drain alongside the dirt of the day. Set a fire and dance around the flames, spit that thing into the blue blaze and watch it dissolve into the brilliance of burning. Hold it in your hand, fold it like those little paper fortune tellers from childhood, but do not let it dictate your future; crush it in your fist.

Return to that place where it all began, roll that thing into a cigarette, light it, and watch it crumble in the ashtray. Do not inhale; let it burn away, leaving nothing but ash in its wake. Take that thing and remember—it is not you. Shame is not what you did; it is a false reflection of who you think you are. Know this: the thing that happened to you holds no power over your true self.

Let it drain away among the remnants of the day. Cleanse yourself of its weight, and in its absence, feel the lightness of your soul reclaim its rightful place. Step forward with the strength to create a new narrative, unburdened by the shadows of the past. Embrace the freedom that comes with releasing what no longer serves you, and let your spirit soar. ❤️

©️ Beatriz Esmer