Rachel Ann

I’m tired of others telling me how to build my fire. Pushing me aside, telling me… I can’t do it. It’s all wrong or, “you’re taking too long.” “It’s not the way I would do it, so you’re incorrect.” So they shove me to the ground to shut me down, Trying to control me with their judgments and harsh words, Hoping I will fall apart. I am wrong because I don’t think and do things the way they would, or how they think I should. So they promptly stomp my fire out. What difference does it make how I...

When we are born, we are all adorned with a crown of thorns. We are not told we can remove it at any time that we choose release ourselves from all of the crimes we have laid upon ourselves and others. Instead, we are taught to love it. So we decorate it — with flowers, with gems. We let it condemn us. Some even use it as a tool to create false rules. We go through life weak and weary, with many crosses to carry. We become attached, drag them wherever we go, too afraid to let them go. If we...

When Can She Be? My child wants to know when can she be— Run around and smile, be carefree, Know what it’s like to truly be Free. She had to play dead Lived the life she wanted inside her head. It was much safer there, because she was spared trauma and despair. It was better than facing so much dread— Better off hiding In her head. No real friends, Only plush animals instead. She had to plot and plan her escape, Afraid of her fate, but only exchanged one cage for another. Until then, She had...