I was deaf for the first 5 years of my life,
Silent and unseen, distant from the light.
Competing with siblings, lost in their storm,
A shadow unseen, never taking form.
Their eyes seemed to glance but not stay,
Their love a vision that drifted away.
Losing grandparents, their warmth turned to night,
Their absences stole pieces of light.
Mum and I packed up our lives, moving dreams in a box,
Each piece like a chapter, each change a new loss.
Heartbreaks that followed were jagged and sharp,
Tearing the strings of a young tender heart.
Narcissists danced through relationships' haze,
Their mirrors reflecting my light into greys.
And Hudson, dear Hudson, my heart broke in two,
Letting you go was the hardest thing to do.
But life, like the seasons, turned over anew,
A storm broke open, revealing the blue.
I moved in with my mum, not seeking repair,
But finding new strength in the love we could share.
I stood on my feet, self-employed and proud,
Building a life that felt strong, that allowed
A house of my own, a dream came alive,
The quietest proof of my strength to survive.
Now I speak of a voice that is finally mine,
No longer afraid of the truths I define.
Of losses and survival, of joy and of pain,
Each step a reminder - I'll rise again.
By Hester Bennett
