In the silence of the night
I wake with a fright.

The dream I had—
was it real?

I smelled you,
touched you,
felt your breath,
heard your voice.

Then I scream
quietly, muffled into my pillow.

It was all so real;
the dream became my reality.

The touch;
the smell;

the voice;
your breath.

And yet, it wasn't me you touched.
It was another.

It's all so clear.

Then I scream
quietly, muffled into my pillow.

All that I wanted with you,
all that I thought we had...
All gone.

You chose this—
this path;

this life.

Then I scream
quietly, muffled into my pillow.

My eyes open slowly,
dampened with tears.

My pillow holds
the drops that fell.

I lie here quietly,
replaying the dream in my mind,

heart beating, breaking, hurting.
I realize you're not mine.

Then I scream
quietly, muffled into my pillow

I take a deep breath,
get out of bed,

look in the mirror,
and smile.

I am a woman—
strong, proud, confident and beautiful.
Thank you, for all you once gave me.

Today, I stand alone.

Then I smile
quietly, looking at my reflection.