In the depths of night, shadows dance and play,
Echoes of a nightmare's twisted sway.
A sharp intake of breath, a surge of dread,
PTSD's grip clutches, fills me with lead.

A male's touch, a whisper's breath,
It transports me back, to the brink of death.
Fear's icy fingers trace my trembling skin,
As horrors resurface, where they've always been.

The look of his face, the taste of blood,
The screams of torment, a haunting flood.
My mind's a battlefield, where battles rage,
Trapped in a cycle that time can't assuage.

I jump at shadows, startle at the sound,
My once-safe haven, a prison all around.
Trust is shattered, relationships strained,
As PTSD's shadow forever remained.

But even in the darkness, embers glow,
A glimmer of hope, where strength I know.
For within me resides a warrior's heart,
That fights the fear, takes ownership of the start.

I will not be defined by what he said,
Or the horrors I endured, the tears I shed.
I will rise above, I will reclaim my life,
In the face of PTSD, I'll conquer the strife.

For I am a survivor, a testament to grace,
Though haunted by the echoes, I'll find my pace.
With every breath, I defy the past,
And embrace the future, dreams that will last.