I Have Softened My Blows

- Lenya Norea Wegener (Germany)

I always thought of pain as a revolving door.

And I walked through it,

like a sinner walks through the gates of a church.

I thought I had to.

I can proudly say, however, I pushed the door hard enough

and it came off its hinges.

I also think I’m past the metaphors.

I am healing

and I am trying not to be sorry about that.

The flakes of my skin became scales.

I’m changing for the better, I think,

and I stopped being angry about it

when I realised that everyone is running from something.

There are a thousand ways to return home.

I’m glad I chose this one.