Shattered

i
Initiation by fire:
unsuspecting, inexperienced,
chronically shy young teacher;
rowdy class
unsupportive school.
Hairline fractures
from lifelong fragility
widened with 60-hour weeks,
excess stress,
little sleep.
A perfect storm.
 
ii
Increased pressure
from all angles
further strained fault lines.
"Just attend these two evenings
of sports training
so we can receive
some free equipment!"
So off she went,
 
iii
It didn't end well.
Double booked,
she left the training early
to travel to another job,
only to be foiled  
by a level crossing at rush hour.
Doing neither one properly,  
she lost all control
as the vessel finally exploded.
 
iv
Friends and family,
talking and time,
interests and creativity
provided the glue
to fix herself with.
Part-way through
the painstaking process,
she realised:
it wasn't possible
to stick the pieces back
the same way as before.
 
v
Now much older,  
hopefully wiser,
she holds tight
to lessons learned through hardship.
You cannot do it all!
Look after yourself
because nobody else will,
Say no sometimes,
lean on others,
strive for balance.
She's been rebuilt
in a different shape.