I hope the sun is shining on your face and you’re breathing deeply

wherever you ended up after I cut you out 

of my life all those years ago.

Despite the vitriol I spit when I speak 

of you, I still hope you’re happy.

I pray your newfound joy lasts 

and your new family doesn’t abandon you

like you abandoned my siblings and me back in 2017.

I still remember when you left for one of the Carolinas 

to meet your new husband’s Children, not even bothering 

to tell me when you’d return, but still citing your shiny new 

chance to “fix your mistakes”– the ones you made raising me.

I yearn for you to thrive even when I don’t believe

you deserve to bloom.