True To Life Meanderings Of A Tortured Soul (Epilogue)
Afterward:
Yet again somewhere else in the world
A thousand miles east of
Where I was before
I have a good job that pays fairly well
A drastic change from walking the streets
I have a young daughter who is almost
Three years old
She keeps me sane
(or keeps me insane, I am not sure which)
The two of us have made a nice life together
Although I still get, at times
Severe anxiety attacks
And occasional flashbacks
And I don't sleep very much
Three to four hours a night at the most
You see, it is better to stay awake
Than to have to deal with the nightmares
But I am coping with the help of some very dear friends
Online
I pretty much keep to myself in the real world
It is hard for me to go out into crowded areas
I guess I am a bit phobic when it comes to that
But I am getting better
Little by little
I have started taking my daughter to the zoo
On the weekends
And it is okay
I don't have nearly the trouble I used to have
She is my inspiration and my motivation
After leaving home at sixteen
A high school drop out
I didn't really care much about education
When you are living on the streets
You learn what you need to learn
To stay alive and no more
And I was always told how stupid I was anyway
So I thought it didn't matter
But now, I have a huge responsibility
I felt a need to educate myself
Or be eclipsed by my own child
So I began reading everything I could find
Old college text books
High school history books
Many other things besides
I got my G.E.D. two months before she was born
I was so proud of myself that day
Now I am a 'white collar professional'
In the field of computer repair
It is a challenge to keep up with
The changing technologies
But I am determined to do so
I will make a good home
For the both of us
And god help anyone who tries to take that away
Denver, CO 2000
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