I stopped carrying Auntie’s drama,
Uncle’s regrets,
my cousin’s late rent—
like hand-me-down coats
Two sizes too heavy.
The family reunion no longer fits—
I RSVP with silence,
dress myself in freedom,
and slip on rhythm instead.
Someone said, “You don’t belong here.”
And for once,
I didn’t argue.
I packed my dignity in a carry-on,
tossed grace in the overhead bin,
and whispered, “Boarding complete.”
Wheels up.
Time’s up.
Everything is shifting like clouds
making way for the sun.
There’s a dance floor waiting—
not a ballroom, not a stage,
but the wide-open space
of not giving a damn
about burdens I didn’t sign for.
And oh, how light I move now,
a two-step process with clarity,
a tango with joy,
a waltz with becoming.
If you see me spinning,
Don’t mistake it for performance.
It’s just the music of my soul—
Finally unmuted.
And to the past I wave,
not bitter, not small—
just poised,
with a smile that says:
“I loved you enough to leave you behind.”
Because the air traffic controller
has cleared the runway—
And darling, I am cleared for takeoff–
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Healing Majestically 