All the characters in my story

Telling your story could be a cathartic experience for you,

But you are worried about dragging others in it too

Some people in your story would not be portrayed in the best light

Tarnishing their reputations through your story-telling does not seem right

But if you were to leave them out completely

Your story would not be as authentic as you want it to be..

*

Perhaps your narrative you would fictionalize

You know those close to you would still recognize

The characters in your story, but the rest of the world would not

Writing your story as a piece of fiction is an attractive thought…

*

As you prepare your account, you realize

There are people to whom you need to apologize

While some people had hurt you, to others you had been unkind

You can make amends through your narrative, keep that in mind

*

Your life has not been lived in a vacuum, nor can your story unfold

Without the presence of others, if your story needs to be told

It would include those who have helped you be who you are

Without taking them along on your storytelling, you would not go far…