i have held onto my childhood self like a leech with a death grip

i hold onto the innocence she lost as if the grasp will somehow restore it

i hold onto the pain and suffering she endured as if i deserve to relive it

i hold onto the fear she felt as if i could now tuck her in and tell her light will shine again

now, i hold onto the power she did not know she had as she continued to fight her own mind to stay alive

now, i hold her hand as i walk away from her and reclaim the power she harvested all these years

i let go of childhood me, and it was nice to be the one leaving, instead of the one being left.