365 days, four countries, and seven states later, I learned that while leaving home is thrilling, coming back to peacefully digest the journey is an equal reward.
Dividing myself at 19 years-old was intended to hold us both together and compensate for the spaces that craved her mother's acceptance. So I primed the cracks with you're beautiful's, I'm proud of you's, and your hair is fine's- reducing myself to the consolation prize.
There's a feeling of betrayal in the pit of my stomach - reading words born from my pen strokes, but none to claim as original work - plagiarized from the heart of a woman I want to know.
