Strangers

by Robin/Rana Lei

We met on the roadside.
We met.
We thought we were strangers because we felt strange.
It had been years since we talked.
You see we had all been told never to talk to each other,
Never to share the honestly of our feelings.
We were told to remain strangers - never to exchange a word.
We both lived our lives in fear,
Constantly in fear.
We talked last night and laughed; boy did we laugh.
And, when I woke up this morning I cried as my body shook;
Underneath the laughter is the pain.
My friend and I share one thing in common;
We both were members of Morningland,
A cult.
We were brainwashed,
Manipulated,
Controlled by a raving lunatic named Sri,
Who claims she is the second coming,
Jesus Christ in the flesh.
My friend and I were both vulnerable women looking for a place called home.
If Morningland is the real thing why did I feel so bad?
Sri told lies and we believed them.
Today I question how many others are in pain?
How many others feel so alone?
I have begun to get my life back - to feel alive again,
To reconnect with others,
To break silence.
I have started to change my life.
We ex-cult members are not devils or demons,
We are just people.
Thank you friend for helping me remember;
With love,
Robin, ex-cult member.