Welcome to my world.

Soar away,

To those lands uncharted.

Let your eyes tear,

Those joyful tears

As your world becomes colourful again.

Whilst I,

In the depths of despair,

Grieve what was, what was to be.

My heart heavy with that

Which I cannot I cannot describe

But feel deeply.

My first love. Fly. Soar away.

Today I left home.

I feel so deeply hurt. So betrayed. So confused.

My siblings don't like me. They say I act like I'm better. That I'm rude and disrespectful.

My mom is an angry woman. She shouted at me today. I was so hurt I cried uncontrollably. She said "those are just crocodile tears"

I went to the bedroom because I needed to remove myself from them. My mom continued shouting and I yelled back "You don't have to come to my graduation if you don't want to".

She lied and said that I'd said she's not my parent.

She came into the bedroom while I was soothing myself. I'd used several tissues and was drinking water to calm down. I took a white mint sweet out of my purse and, thinking it is medication, my mom said "You can take however many pills, I don't care".

She then came fidgeting in my things (my toiletry bag that was open) and I yelled at her repeatedly "what do you want from my things". I pulled my things to myself. She then slapped me.

I could not take it. For the first time I fought back. I fought my mom back. She used to beat us a lot when I was growing up. I'd have sjambok scars on my legs and arms but hide them under a school jersey. I have a scar next to my left eye that tells the story of the physical abuse I endured as a kid.

But this time, I could not take it. I packed my things and I left.

Before I left, she locked me in, preventing me from leaving, asking where I was going. My brother, who believes I have a "gift that I am wasting my being disrespectful" found a spare key and opened for me.

Gugulethu

Today we celebrate our 3 year anniversary ♥️ Unfortunately, still separated by the long distance 😪

I will never express enough the amount of gratitude I have for you. You have taught me so much about love, about the world and about empathy. You have shown me what it means to be loved unconditionally. What it means to be heard. We sure have had our ups and downs like all couples do, but we continue to choose each other. Everyday.

You are my baby. My partner in crime. My other half. My bestest friend. My lover. I love all that you are, all that you have been and all that you will continue to be. 3 years later, I still choose you and forever will. ♥️

No words will ever be enough to express my boundless love for you. Even saying "I love you to the moon and back" does not cut it.