The Glass Cracked

by laurie howland

The glass cracked
 Under the pressure 
 From the stress
 Compromising her structural integrity
 It spread like a spider web
 Fanning out into all aspects of her life
 It was like veins with blood pulsing through it
 Taking the pain to all parts of her heart
 Impacting her soul
 

 She doesn’t recall when the crack first appeared
 Though she had felt it for a long time
 She had gotten good at ignoring it
 Denying its existence
 Till it became too obvious
 Years of suffering, loneliness and sadness
 The sheer emotional breakage was too much 
 And the glass cracked
 

 She knew it was going to shatter
 Her hopes
 Her dreams
 Her heart
 Leaving her exposed
 For the glass had been her fortress
 And now she lay bare
 Unprotected from the elements
 The judgement
 The pain
 The heartache
 

 But she knew she wouldn’t replace the glass
 Repair or try to mend the cracks
 No, they were her scars
 Wounds from her struggles
 The glass cracked
 Forcing her to face the truth
 Come to terms with her story
 Allowing her heart to heal
 Her soul to strengthen’
 With no need for armor
 Or guards
 

 The glass cracked
 And set her free