From a Caterpillar to a Butterfly

When I first stepped into adulthood,
I knew what I wanted for my life.
I wanted a man to love and serve,
A man to love and protect me.
I stepped into adulthood fragile and scared,
Looking for the man who would guide me,
The man who I would follow to the ends of the earth and back again.

A man came into my life,
Took my gift and used it maliciously.
Turned my soft and fragile self into a hard and unmoving shell.
He blinded my eyes to the wonderful gift I had to give,
And made me feel alone, scared and unsure.
In this shell I stayed turning it into my shield,
So that nothing would hurt me.

Then you stepped into my life,
At first I was leery,
I wondered what you wanted and how you were going to hurt me.
But you didn't.
You stood up for me, and protected me.
I gradually let the shell begin to crumble and fall,
Beginning to emerge, you were there.
Catching me every time I would begin to go back into that shell,
You would gently pull me out again,
Making me feel safe with you.

Now, I've opened my wings and I'm in the air,
You are still there,
Watching me as I fly.
When the winds of life come and blow me down,
Or I carelessly fly into something,
You will be there to gently pick me up,
Being careful not to remove the delicate powder on my wings.
You will then again gently release me back into the air to fly again.
To fly again right behind your guidance.
To fly again in your protection.
To fly again on the wings of my submission.