By Victoria Hulmes 
When you were younger, Mommy, what were you like? What did you do?
Darling, I had a whole life, way before I introduced the world to you.
In a universe where you were only a thought, a glimmer,
I was carefree, adventurous, less grumpy.
Thinner.
I knew nothing of pregnancy aches, sleepless nights, baby blues,
No concept of mommy stress, newborn angst,
The terrible twos.
I danced until dawn and spent without guilt,
I wore dresses, walked in heels – my stride on a tilt,
Trod my own path, met friends on a whim,
Missed the last train home . . .
. . . and then I met him.
And for one millisecond my world stopped spinning,
Because that was it,
The story of you,
Chapter one—
—the beginning.
She’s long gone now—that other girl,
Although I see shadows of her in a smile,
A giggle,
A kitchen dance twirl.
And when I close my eyes I can picture her face.
But I wonder, when exactly did it happen?
The day she left,
And I stepped into her place?
I miss her,
But I now have all she ever wanted—her dream.
(The one yet to come true.)
Because my darling,
I was never, ever really me . . .
. . . without you.
by Karey Warriner 
