As I stood there slightly shaking, nervously sharing my story, I glanced up occasionally making eye contact with an empathizing woman in the audience, her encouraging smile seemed to give me permission to courageously keep speaking my truth. 

Breathing deeply then exhaling slowly;

the words flow like a raging river

from the depths of my soul, 

secrets and shameful

encounters fleeting as they 

no longer keep me bound, 

I yell from the pit of my gut, 

I am free. 

 – denise marie 

“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

#nolongerheldcaptive