You kept me on a heavy, tight leash my entire life.

I bear the deep scars around my neck to prove it.

Of course they healed over after I gave up,

no longer bucking against your imprisonment.

By confining me early, you confined me for life;

or at least long after you broke me.

You didn’t break me, though, did you?

I learned to venture out and live again.

I still bear the scars, but I’m finally free of and from you.

I’m bouncing back high, higher, highest…

weightless to the point of cresting Heaven itself.

Any second now.

I can almost feel it…