The Clearing Poem by Mario, Lucien, Rene Odekerken

I find myself in a forest of lies,
each tree planted by the hands I trusted.
The ground beneath is uneven,
roots of betrayal twisting underfoot.

There was a time we built this place together,
each moment a sapling of joy.
Now, the clearing stretches before me,
wide and raw.

You brought another into the quiet of our sanctuary,
a shadow now darkens what once felt infinite.
In one act, the air thickened,
the sunlight grew cold.

But here, in this clearing,
I will plant again.
Not for us,
but for myself.

Every seed will grow with truth,
every root will strengthen without deceit.
The forest will heal,
even as its scars remain.

I will walk forward,
leaving behind the hollow trunks of your actions.
The clearing is mine now,
and it is enough.