Photo by Darius Bashar on Unsplash

The hours have drifted away like
water floating down the river never to be seen again.

Only the memories are true now.
Moved to the back of my mind.
Those were hours that my life changed for the better.

I had figured out who I was and
how I was going to become
me.

I was going to quit pleasing people and
start speaking my mind.

I was going to believe in myself
because I was the only one who depended on it.

My life was going to be all mine and no one else’s.

Not my parent’s hope of a redo.
Not my past friendships.

I would be my best friend
Now.

Setting my goals, so when I crushed them, I could slap myself on the back.
Not like the people who cheered for me, but who also cheered silently when I failed.

So,
Never again will YOU have a front row seat to my dreams.

They are for the people who want nothing but my happiness
to make me a success,

And who will root for me the entire time.

— Nicole Barden 1/13/2021

Originally published in Illumination on Medium