Remember the world outside
that cage?
It’s even brighter than you recall. Colors pop, tastes explode. You’re rediscovering old loves, things that made you happy before the chaos. You dance, you sing, you explore. You are free.
For a while, it’s amazing. You soak up the joy, the peace, the pure relief of being you again. Friends and family, people who truly see you, celebrate your strength. You’re surrounded by love and support.
But as the initial high fades, a new feeling creeps in: loneliness. The quiet, once a welcome break, now echoes with the absence of the familiar chaos. The bed feels too big, the evenings too long. The world, so full of possibilities, can also feel overwhelming.
You find yourself missing… something. Not them, not the abuse, but the intense connection, the feeling of being completely understood, even if that understanding was twisted. You miss the drama, the highs and lows, the feeling of being needed.
This is a dangerous point. It’s tempting to go back to that familiar comfort, even knowing the cost. But you resist. You remember the pain, the fear, the way it chipped away at your soul. You remember why you left.
And slowly, things change. The loneliness doesn’t vanish, but it transforms. It becomes a quiet friend, a space for thinking, for growing. You start to enjoy your own company. You learn to listen to your own voice, to trust your gut.
You discover a new kind of comfort, one that comes from within. It’s the comfort of knowing yourself, of accepting yourself, flaws and all. It’s the comfort of building a life on your own terms, not on someone else’s needs.
You realize you are enough. You don’t need someone else to complete you, to tell you you’re okay. You are whole, and you are strong.
This new comfort is a quiet strength, a gentle confidence. It’s not the dramatic, all-consuming passion you once knew, but it’s far better in the long run. It’s the foundation for a life filled with real love, respect, and peace.
And who knows what the future holds? Maybe, someday, you’ll find someone who adds to your life, someone who loves you without needing to control you. But until then, you are content. You are free.
You are home.
