Staring at all of the choices — a haunted pause.
A creeping memory — damage to freedom done.
An echo of his control in a simple, common act — interrupted.
Confusion — how could this be lurking seven years later?
He has no agency here now — but his voice sometimes still whispers.
That first free day — knees buckling, hands clutching the shopping cart.
Permission to be there not given — prisoner of his words, his expectations.
Overwhelmed then — now memories of all the rough terrain traveled.
Unbroken is so close — he is nothing but faint shadows now.
