Old Friend

Feb 21, 2026

You’ve walked with me from an early age,
today I ask you subtly to please
stay away.

I would wait behind you
watch what you had to say
like you knew better
like you’d lead us to the right place.

These days I take deep breaths
and I hold it in for a moment
as you approach.

Now it happens subconsciously,
my body feels you coming
even before the rest of me
points you out
so blatantly.

I let you control so many
important choices
decisions
people,

you made it seem like I had to.

Your presence now
more like a python
gradually
purposefully
suffocating me.

Hold me so tight
I cannot see
what’s truly in front of me.

What do you want from me?

What is it now?

Let me go,
let me soar
untether me from your ties,
leave me with what’s mine.

Release your claws.

Let me run free.

But words don’t come,
most days I retreat
to old patterns
you lead the way
I accept defeat.

I won’t get angry,
you thrive when I do,
it’s the quiet that kills you
though it never fully stops
your purpose
your path to break through.

Claws sink in deep
fiery hellish fury
I won’t get away,
get rid of you so easily.

One day
I imagine
I dream,
a vibrant
glorious
golden dream of survival.

I say goodbye to you
you recoil
promise in blood
a clean severance.

There would be
no point in your return,
there is clarity,
it all begins to make sense.

Puddles mirror blue skies
rainbows unfold like flower petals
and fiddleheads.

Touch the horizon
and reach me back
at the heart.

Your venom separating
from my blood
it looks thicker.

All of nature’s beauty
beside me
watching you depart.

…Consider maybe buying me a cup of decaf coffee <3