There Used To Be A Time

There used to be a time when being alone bothered me, When the silence surrounding me, rang loudly in my ears, There used to be a time when I needed to feel needed, wanted even,
When words of affection brought surges of joy, but I have come to realize words without actions are empty,
There used to be a time, when I would willingly lose myself, to maintain another,
Leaving me, but a shell of my former self,
There used to be a time when I sought so much more from others, now I realize I require only myself,
Attachment leads to disappointment and disappointment merely to pain,
There used to be a time when I ran towards all things excitable and thrilling when it came to matters of my heart,
Now, I seek to protect it, guard it like treasure, something of deep value,
There used to be a time I would even call it a wall, but I have learned better, it is merely a cocoon…
April 2022- R1