As a kid, I did not understand what boundaries were.
Personal space was a foreign concept,
my desire for closeness my primary goal.
Why wouldn't we hold our loved ones close?
Express our love and affection,
all disguised as my need for attention.
Along the way, my shadow kept score
of every intrusion, every violation,
every fucked up situation that had me screaming
Malory, fight back. Don't disappear.
Now I cry doing my pap smear,
somatic memories triggered within.
I love that young girl who loves freely;
I hope that one day, I can find her again.