Befores and afters

In some fantastical realm
or parallel universe
there live the people we were
Before

If we're not careful
we spend our lives trying to get back
before the abandonment
before the shame
before the illness
before the death
before the heartbreak

But we live in the After
after the healing
after the victory
after meeting that someone
after the commitment
after the awakening
And if we're honest with ourselves
we know we can't get back
to Before
without losing
the After