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🌒 Half-God, Half-Ghost

I am not what I survived — I am what I dared to stay alive for.

By Rukka NovaPublished 8 months ago • 1 min read
Runner-Up in Tattoo This Line Challenge
🌒 Half-God, Half-Ghost
Photo by Lan Gao on Unsplash

They only ever saw what I survived.

The fire I walked out of.

The storm I didn’t drown in.

They called me strong like it was a compliment,

but never asked what it cost to crawl back from the edge barefoot and bleeding.

I’ve smiled with a shattered mouth,

loved with a ribcage full of smoke,

laughed loud enough to hide the fracture in my spine.

I am not a phoenix.

I didn’t rise.

I stayed.

And that was the miracle.

“I am not what I survived — I am what I dared to stay alive for.”

Put that on skin.

Put that on scars.

Put that where the light hits.

Gratitude

About the Creator

Rukka Nova

A full-time blogger on a writing spree!

Reader insights

Outstanding

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Comments (4)

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  • Dharrsheena Raja Segarran8 months ago

    Wooohooooo congratulations on your win! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊

  • Dalma Ubitz8 months ago

    Came for the image, stayed for the words! Wow!

  • Rachel M.J8 months ago

    Beaauttiful, I especially liked these lines, "I am not a phoenix. I didn’t rise. I stayed. And that was the miracle."

  • Joe Patterson8 months ago

    You’re better.

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