Be Brave

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There was a time when the usual morning text would make Jennifer flutter, giddy as an idiot, with hopes springing higher than the tides, she liquefied. A fool loyal to a taken man, what joy was there in that? Prancing around like she was doing the world a favour, Jennifer went deep undercover. Blindfolded by lust, and chained by the Eastern Caribbean dollar, she forgot who she was and fell prey to the monster. Materialism shadowed her and plunged her underwater, as he kept his foot on the lump of her throat, there was no coming back for air, respiratory system held captive, he knew where to keep her. Submerged.

An avid sinner, crooked and adorned, with a taunting spirit of restless nights and the nervousness of an uncharged phone, he was always about to call. Loving a man at night was the champion of causes and won her gold medals but when the sun came out, Jennifer was last place. She could not be seen, not even in his penumbra. A life fitting, only for a bat.

Then, one day, the heart and brain began a tug of war and it seemed that the brain was winning. Jennifer hung on the empty prospect of her being the only one but her brain sent shockwaves down her spine and she froze. It was at that split, nervous second, commonsense prevailed and confidently took a seat.

Jennifer and self-worth had a handshake and self-esteem locked her in a tight embrace. Looking over the shoulder of self-love, she gazed upon him, dissipating in the distance, daring to beckon for her to follow. This time, though, she did not jolt, nor did she try to reach for him. She sunk her face into the armour of self-love and down came the heavy, pain-laden tears. Self- actualization whispered, "I am here, it will be okay."

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