Leaving

It was time to go, you said.

Before you stepped out of the door

Into the corridor.

So I began to get my things.

When I had arrived there, I had left

My dignity behind. No place for me

Upon those shelves. My sense of self

               subsumed

By the fabric of the sofa. My pride

Buried by the washing basket. My

independence

Stacked behind the tins in the cupboard.

In the bathroom I found my soul

And stowed it in my wash bag. Hidden in

My knicker drawer I discovered my secrets

and packed them away

With my lingerie.

Amongst my books, there was hiding my

Desire, and I used it to mark

The words we never said.

I took down my largest suitcase, but

My memories wouldn’t fit, so

I removed a few, and left them

 just for you,

Hidden behind the wardrobe.

At last.

I squeezed my heart into a hat box

Gathered up my bags

And

Walked out into the future.