I stand in the ruins of what I once was.

I stand here, wondering what I used to be—trying to picture what once was.
I don’t know what was built and standing, for it’s all crumbled and fallen.
It’s all charred and black. It’s all dark and useless.
I only see footprints of who I used to be.
I no longer know how to imagine it.

I know I had a foundation,
but when the walls began to rise,
someone came and tore them down.
And they won. They did.

So it took longer to restart, to begin again.
After that, it felt like I started to fade—
Like I didn’t know what color or shape I could be,
What I wanted to be. I didn’t know. I still don’t.

But I will keep fighting to rebuild,
Even if it means my walls come crumbling down
And I have to start again.

Because once I get up there,
And a roof is over my head,
I won’t be so easy to burn,
To shrink.

I won’t have ruins to look at— But a castle to see.