I looked around the place that I was in
Nothing there but bleak, hostile, bare
not a place to build a home
or even unpack a bag
so I began to cross
one step at a time
shaking and quivering
across that flimsy bridge
Because sometimes when you’re desperate
even something shaky and unknown
is preferable to where you have been

But a curious thing began to happen
with each cautious step
I found that the bridge was stronger than I thought
and grew more substantial with each step

Or rather, each uttered word
And the woman sitting across from me listened
with such an empathetic heart

without a flicker of judgement 
and with so much kindness in her eyes,
that I told her all that was in my withered soul
mascara running down my face,

tissues scattered round
And week by week I began to see 
the beauty that was possible on the other side
of that substantial bridge

—This is a memory of the first time I connected with a counsellor. Pursuing counselling takes a huge amount of courage, but as the relationship develops it becomes easier, and quite literally, has changed my life!

©Heather Pound 2021