Triggered

Something that seemed minor

hit me like a freight train

*

Triggered

Tears

Flashbacks

Dissociation

*

I had to walk away

to take care

of my child

*

But first

I told her

"It's funny how

these things come up."

A tear gently streamed

down my cheekbone

"I know this is more about me

than about you."

*

I expressed to her

how I was triggered

How her words brought

me back to a place

where my reality

was invalidated

*

Where I was

alienated

Where questioning

myself and what I knew

only lead me

to the wrong answer

When I was right

all before being

called into question

by others

*

She apologized

But I reminded her

"This isn't about you."

"This has everything to do with me."

"My strange reality as a kid."

Popping in to say hello

when I least expected it

*

She asked how

she could be there for me

from here on out

I told her I didn't know

All I knew is that

right now

I needed to be here

for myself