the deepest wound

I carry

is the one

titled:

“you aren’t important.”

I am trying

to hold her

(little me)

in new ways

that say,

“I love you”

and

“you matter here” —

but

unlearned words

take so long

to make

a memory.

I keep

trying,

building

a feeling

I still don’t know

how to feel.

I look in the mirror

I squeeze myself tight

I stay at it

again and again:

‘I love you.’

and

‘You matter here. ‘

I keep at it,

unlearning

the unnecessary

lessons

of unimportance.