Writing has been my escape A way to cope and Leave the pain Behind. Writing has been a gift to myself That I unwrap years later To find time capsules of joy that I created for Me. But when I dared to dream, I envisioned what writing could be. Getting paid to write? Not possible said younger me. And I dreamed different dreams That became reality. But then something happened between Not giving up and aging. I rewrote my dream. First, one story sold And then another. Each check received was proof that my writing could feed Not only my soul But also my family.