A slice of time.

There is so much I need to say
I am here in this slice
of time
with you
And I know
for the first time
contentment

I have opened myself up
to you
completely
because you
accept me
without judgment
without exceptions
without expectations

Here with you
I just am…
not good
not bad
just me

I have no fear
when I am near you
no censor
no self-doubt.

You have helped
me to come
out of a cocoon
A shell
so carefully built
constructed to
protect
what was left
of this broken
me

One small piece
at a time
you loosened
then lifted
the shell
because you saw
the butterfly
trapped inside…

The butterfly
I couldn’t
see or feel.
The butterfly
I thought
was gone…