nothing can prepare you
for the pain you’ll feel
for the people you’ll hurt
and the people who will hurt you
it just happens
it hits you
with the roaring intensity of thunder
the shock you’ll encounter
feels like you’ve been struck by lightning,
but you’ll learn to forgive
them and yourself
though this storm has passed
and the skies are now clear
you simply wring out your drenched clothes
and wait for the next one
except this time you’ve got an umbrella.