Beautiful poem, no one should ever have to go through something like this. On another note, I love the free verse aspect to it. Well done.

Hi, firstly welcome to P&Q. A fabulous first piece by you here that I guess many people can relate to everywhere in the big bag world.

Title - Thoughts, it could be about anything but I guess the section it's in is sad thoughts, ones that cannot be forgotten.

1/ This opening is ominous and makes you think what has this person done that could hurt you so much yet still be unharmed themselves so to speak though the words clean point to abuse of some kind, I think.

2/ When we have been hurt in the worst possible way we feel uncleansed, dirty, no longer pure and numb to any feeling. I have been there and some days it goes others it comes back and it hurts worse than what it did back then.

3/ This is a hard hitting part that time drags on because you feel numb and like this person is still hurting you and in my experience they will because they are free even after what they did.. To me times flies and you seem to lose track of every minute never mind each day.

4/ When we have been abused in any way (and I shall apologise now if it's way off the mark) we blame ourselves usually because we feel like we weren't strong enough back then and sometimes because we get blamed then. I was constantly told things were my fault so now when bad things happen I believe that it was my fault; emotional scars I think are far worse than any other.

5/ I like the kind of optimism here because you know things have happened but you are now more in control of things and though you cannot forget you can forgive and I truly believe that helps in the healing process.

All the best, Em

Welcome to P & Q! I'm sorry this happened to you. No one should be hurt the way you have. Although sad as this write is I see hope and optimism too. Your willingness to forgive is positive steps to healing. Well done-

I can relate this piece a lot, especially today. Wonderful read.