"The Shattered Portrait: Unraveling the Pieces of Love and Healing"

Prequel

Traces

A memory surfaces, reminiscent of a recent past when I believed in the love of someone I held special, someone who promised to never hurt or abandon me. But now, I sit alone, watching the scars on my heart, feeling its fading rhythm.

Years have passed, yet these scars feel fresh as if etched just yesterday. How do I erase these memories from my soul, these forbidden markings that haunt me like a canvas painted in pain?

Puzzle Pieces

Wholeness

From my earliest days, my mother nurtured me with lessons on love's meaning, showing me its completeness through my father's care. As an only child, I had the privilege of dual parental love, avoiding sibling rivalries. Still, I sometimes longed for siblings to share life's challenges.

I seemed ready for life's journey, a puzzle complete. I embodied the image of that box cover, untouched by anyone's manipulation. Yet...

A Missing Part

Addressed to my husband, this letter's purpose is clear. Communication falters, and I feel unseen. A missing part of me seeks attention, longing for the first love, the soulmate, the best friend. We were sweethearts from a young age, once inseparable. But today, you're unrecognizable, a far cry from the boy I knew.

I watch you try to fix the puzzle, but you slyly remove more pieces than you restore. Can't you see? I am the puzzle, and your actions are shattering me. Until you truly see, you won't understand the pain etched within.

You Took A Piece Of Me...

Emotional abuse leaves enduring scars. It's a thorn that eats at self-esteem, a reminder that lingers. Our marriage, once full of promise, has changed. The love you mirrored is now lost, replaced by indifference. You've stolen pieces of me, leaving me fractured.

You Took A Piece Of Me...

Amid stress, I sought solace in food, leading to weight gain and further distress. I expected us to face struggles together, but your hurtful words became weapons. "Fat," "lazy," "nasty" – they pierced deep, shredding the image I held of myself.

You Took A Piece Of Me...

Your love for our children contrasts starkly with your treatment of me. While you care for them, you hurt me. You love with a heavy hand, causing pain and fear. It's not genuine love; it's a twisted cycle. Each blow tears another piece away.

(Continued...)

– Vee Nelly | Author & Poet