Bruised and Battered strong words that bring about the emotions of defeat.  What if I told you instead it represents strength and empowerment? No one can weather your storm because only you have the power to end it.  Storms of circumstance self-inflicted. We hold the key to change.  I once loved a bad dream that made me feel worthless at times and others like a queen. Oh, a bad dream had me twisted inside could not breathe unless in its company.  Was I so broken that I looked past the insults o physical pain?  So, wrapped up in motivating them to live, I never thought about me. Love, dangerous for all the right reasons, yet I looked past its warning signs. I drank from its flask poison filled with broken.