"I made my way to the bathroom and gazed at myself in the mirror trying to find the victorious pride I'd once felt when I first succumbed to his desire, but it was replaced with disgust."
BETRAYAL
"The boundaries I'd managed to maintain were nothing more than rotting fences, made vulnerable after years of exposure to the raging storm of his disdain."
ACHIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE
"I placed the medal around my neck and all the pain and fatigue melted away. I had just done the impossible.
DESOLATION
"My mind drifted and as the alcohol numbed my defenses, I was reminded of the betrayal that had been lurking in the background for years."
SAFE
"The sky wept softly as I prepared to sacrifice the hope of love for the peace of solitude."
GOING THE DISTANCE
"Every time I run it feels like a miracle. It wasn't that long ago that I passed out in my living room after mild exertion due to my PAH."