Vacate

They walked in...

And rummaged through my past
looking for reminders of
why I should be afraid
feel foolish to try again
why I should hide

I let them

They laid their evidence on my heart
the memories rose like vapor
I flinched
all the missed takes
the rejection and the abandonment
misunderstandings and misinformation
I folded hands over my heart
how did it endure so much

When they finished
I looked over everything and
there shining on the edges of each memory
was a golden light

I pinched at it
until it was trapped between my fingers
I pulled

When I was done
I offered them the mound of golden lining
with which they tied up the memories
and walked away
never to return

Then he walked in...