diff --git a/examples/container.zig b/examples/container.zig
index 2b4f1e7..5704678 100644
--- a/examples/container.zig
+++ b/examples/container.zig
@@ -30,56 +30,38 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     // TODO: when not running fullscreen, the application needs to screen down accordingly to display the contents
     // -> size hint how much should it use?
 
-    var layout = Layout.createFrom(layout: {
-        var stack = Layout.HContainer.init(allocator, .{
-            .{
-                Widget.createFrom(blk: {
-                    var spacer = Widget.Spacer.init();
-                    break :blk &spacer;
-                }),
-                15,
-            },
-            .{
-                Layout.createFrom(container: {
-                    var container = Layout.VContainer.init(allocator, .{
-                        .{
-                            Widget.createFrom(blk: {
-                                var spacer = Widget.Spacer.init();
-                                break :blk &spacer;
-                            }),
-                            25,
-                        },
-                        .{
-                            Widget.createFrom(blk: {
-                                const file = try std.fs.cwd().openFile("./src/app.zig", .{});
-                                defer file.close();
-                                var widget = Widget.RawText.init(allocator, file);
-                                break :blk &widget;
-                            }),
-                            50,
-                        },
-                        .{
-                            Widget.createFrom(blk: {
-                                var spacer = Widget.Spacer.init();
-                                break :blk &spacer;
-                            }),
-                            25,
-                        },
-                    });
-                    break :container &container;
-                }),
-                70,
-            },
-            .{
-                Widget.createFrom(blk: {
-                    var spacer = Widget.Spacer.init();
-                    break :blk &spacer;
-                }),
-                15,
-            },
-        });
-        break :layout &stack;
-    });
+    var layout = Layout.createFrom(Layout.HContainer.init(allocator, .{
+        .{
+            Widget.createFrom(Widget.Spacer.init(allocator)),
+            15,
+        },
+        .{
+            Layout.createFrom(Layout.VContainer.init(allocator, .{
+                .{
+                    Widget.createFrom(Widget.Spacer.init(allocator)),
+                    25,
+                },
+                .{
+                    Widget.createFrom(blk: {
+                        const file = try std.fs.cwd().openFile("./src/app.zig", .{});
+                        defer file.close();
+                        const widget = Widget.RawText.init(allocator, file);
+                        break :blk widget;
+                    }),
+                    50,
+                },
+                .{
+                    Widget.createFrom(Widget.Spacer.init(allocator)),
+                    25,
+                },
+            })),
+            70,
+        },
+        .{
+            Widget.createFrom(Widget.Spacer.init(allocator)),
+            15,
+        },
+    }));
     defer layout.deinit();
 
     try app.start();
diff --git a/examples/exec.zig b/examples/exec.zig
index 669230c..06f7678 100644
--- a/examples/exec.zig
+++ b/examples/exec.zig
@@ -31,41 +31,26 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     // TODO: when not running fullscreen, the application needs to screen down accordingly to display the contents
     // -> size hint how much should it use?
 
-    var layout = Layout.createFrom(layout: {
-        var container = Layout.VContainer.init(allocator, .{
-            .{
-                Widget.createFrom(blk: {
-                    var spacer = Widget.Spacer.init();
-                    break :blk &spacer;
-                }),
-                45,
-            },
-            .{
-                Layout.createFrom(framing: {
-                    var framing = Layout.Framing.init(allocator, .{}, .{
-                        .widget = Widget.createFrom(blk: {
-                            var widget = Widget.Text.init(.center, &[_]Cell{
-                                .{ .content = "Press " },
-                                .{ .content = "Ctrl+n", .style = .{ .fg = .{ .index = 6 } } },
-                                .{ .content = " to launch $EDITOR" },
-                            });
-                            break :blk &widget;
-                        }),
-                    });
-                    break :framing &framing;
-                }),
-                10,
-            },
-            .{
-                Widget.createFrom(blk: {
-                    var spacer = Widget.Spacer.init();
-                    break :blk &spacer;
-                }),
-                45,
-            },
-        });
-        break :layout &container;
-    });
+    var layout = Layout.createFrom(Layout.VContainer.init(allocator, .{
+        .{
+            Widget.createFrom(Widget.Spacer.init(allocator)),
+            45,
+        },
+        .{
+            Layout.createFrom(Layout.Framing.init(allocator, .{}, .{
+                .widget = Widget.createFrom(Widget.Text.init(allocator, .center, &[_]Cell{
+                    .{ .content = "Press " },
+                    .{ .content = "Ctrl+n", .style = .{ .fg = .{ .index = 6 } } },
+                    .{ .content = " to launch $EDITOR" },
+                })),
+            })),
+            10,
+        },
+        .{
+            Widget.createFrom(Widget.Spacer.init(allocator)),
+            45,
+        },
+    }));
     defer layout.deinit();
 
     try app.start();
diff --git a/examples/padding.zig b/examples/padding.zig
index 2f260f9..0b2ef4f 100644
--- a/examples/padding.zig
+++ b/examples/padding.zig
@@ -30,54 +30,41 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     // TODO: when not running fullscreen, the application needs to screen down accordingly to display the contents
     // -> size hint how much should it use?
 
-    var layout = Layout.createFrom(layout: {
-        var padding = Layout.Padding.init(allocator, .{
-            .padding = 15,
+    var layout = Layout.createFrom(Layout.Padding.init(allocator, .{
+        .padding = 15,
+    }, .{
+        .layout = Layout.createFrom(Layout.Framing.init(allocator, .{
+            .style = .{
+                .fg = .{
+                    .index = 6,
+                },
+            },
+            .frame = .round,
+            .title = .{
+                .str = "Content in Margin",
+                .style = .{
+                    .ul_style = .single,
+                    .ul = .{ .index = 6 },
+                    .bold = true,
+                },
+            },
         }, .{
-            .layout = Layout.createFrom(framing: {
-                var framing = Layout.Framing.init(
-                    allocator,
-                    .{
-                        .style = .{
-                            .fg = .{
-                                .index = 6,
-                            },
-                        },
-                        .frame = .round,
-                        .title = .{
-                            .str = "Content in Margin",
-                            .style = .{
-                                .ul_style = .single,
-                                .ul = .{ .index = 6 },
-                                .bold = true,
-                            },
-                        },
-                    },
-                    .{
-                        .layout = Layout.createFrom(margin: {
-                            var margin = Layout.Margin.init(
-                                allocator,
-                                .{
-                                    .margin = 10,
-                                },
-                                .{
-                                    .widget = Widget.createFrom(blk: {
-                                        const file = try std.fs.cwd().openFile("./examples/padding.zig", .{});
-                                        defer file.close();
-                                        var widget = Widget.RawText.init(allocator, file);
-                                        break :blk &widget;
-                                    }),
-                                },
-                            );
-                            break :margin &margin;
-                        }),
-                    },
-                );
-                break :framing &framing;
-            }),
-        });
-        break :layout &padding;
-    });
+            .layout = Layout.createFrom(Layout.Margin.init(
+                allocator,
+                .{
+                    .margin = 10,
+                },
+                .{
+                    .widget = Widget.createFrom(blk: {
+                        const file = try std.fs.cwd().openFile("./examples/padding.zig", .{});
+                        defer file.close();
+                        const widget = Widget.RawText.init(allocator, file);
+                        break :blk widget;
+                    }),
+                },
+            )),
+        })),
+    }));
     defer layout.deinit();
 
     try app.start();
diff --git a/examples/stack.zig b/examples/stack.zig
index 67f4390..f96516f 100644
--- a/examples/stack.zig
+++ b/examples/stack.zig
@@ -30,97 +30,67 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     // TODO: when not running fullscreen, the application needs to screen down accordingly to display the contents
     // -> size hint how much should it use?
 
-    var layout = Layout.createFrom(layout: {
-        var framing = Layout.Framing.init(allocator, .{
+    var layout = Layout.createFrom(Layout.Framing.init(allocator, .{
+        .style = .{
+            .fg = .{
+                .index = 6,
+            },
+        },
+        .frame = .round,
+        .title = .{
+            .str = "HStack",
             .style = .{
-                .fg = .{
-                    .index = 6,
-                },
+                .ul_style = .single,
+                .ul = .{ .index = 6 },
+                .bold = true,
             },
-            .frame = .round,
-            .title = .{
-                .str = "HStack",
-                .style = .{
-                    .ul_style = .single,
-                    .ul = .{ .index = 6 },
-                    .bold = true,
+        },
+    }, .{
+        .layout = Layout.createFrom(Layout.HStack.init(allocator, .{
+            Widget.createFrom(Widget.Spacer.init(allocator)),
+            Layout.createFrom(Layout.Framing.init(
+                allocator,
+                .{
+                    .style = .{
+                        .fg = .{
+                            .index = 6,
+                        },
+                    },
+                    .frame = .round,
+                    .title = .{
+                        .str = "VStack",
+                        .style = .{
+                            .ul_style = .single,
+                            .ul = .{ .index = 6 },
+                            .bold = true,
+                        },
+                    },
                 },
-            },
-        }, .{
-            .layout = Layout.createFrom(hstack: {
-                var hstack = Layout.HStack.init(allocator, .{
-                    Widget.createFrom(blk: {
-                        var spacer = Widget.Spacer.init();
-                        break :blk &spacer;
-                    }),
-                    Layout.createFrom(framing: {
-                        var framing = Layout.Framing.init(
-                            allocator,
-                            .{
-                                .style = .{
-                                    .fg = .{
-                                        .index = 6,
-                                    },
-                                },
-                                .frame = .round,
-                                .title = .{
-                                    .str = "VStack",
-                                    .style = .{
-                                        .ul_style = .single,
-                                        .ul = .{ .index = 6 },
-                                        .bold = true,
-                                    },
-                                },
-                            },
-                            .{
-                                .layout = Layout.createFrom(
-                                    padding: {
-                                        var padding = Layout.Margin.init(
-                                            allocator,
-                                            .{
-                                                .margin = 10,
-                                            },
-                                            .{
-                                                .layout = Layout.createFrom(vstack: {
-                                                    var vstack = Layout.VStack.init(allocator, .{
-                                                        Widget.createFrom(blk: {
-                                                            const file = try std.fs.cwd().openFile("./examples/stack.zig", .{});
-                                                            defer file.close();
-                                                            var widget = Widget.RawText.init(allocator, file);
-                                                            break :blk &widget;
-                                                        }),
-                                                        Widget.createFrom(blk: {
-                                                            var spacer = Widget.Spacer.init();
-                                                            break :blk &spacer;
-                                                        }),
-                                                        Widget.createFrom(blk: {
-                                                            const file = try std.fs.cwd().openFile("./examples/stack.zig", .{});
-                                                            defer file.close();
-                                                            var widget = Widget.RawText.init(allocator, file);
-                                                            break :blk &widget;
-                                                        }),
-                                                    });
-                                                    break :vstack &vstack;
-                                                }),
-                                            },
-                                        );
-                                        break :padding &padding;
-                                    },
-                                ),
-                            },
-                        );
-                        break :framing &framing;
-                    }),
-                    Widget.createFrom(blk: {
-                        var spacer = Widget.Spacer.init();
-                        break :blk &spacer;
-                    }),
-                });
-                break :hstack &hstack;
-            }),
-        });
-        break :layout &framing;
-    });
+                .{
+                    .layout = Layout.createFrom(Layout.Margin.init(allocator, .{
+                        .margin = 10,
+                    }, .{
+                        .layout = Layout.createFrom(Layout.VStack.init(allocator, .{
+                            Widget.createFrom(blk: {
+                                const file = try std.fs.cwd().openFile("./examples/stack.zig", .{});
+                                defer file.close();
+                                const widget = Widget.RawText.init(allocator, file);
+                                break :blk widget;
+                            }),
+                            Widget.createFrom(Widget.Spacer.init(allocator)),
+                            Widget.createFrom(blk: {
+                                const file = try std.fs.cwd().openFile("./examples/stack.zig", .{});
+                                defer file.close();
+                                const widget = Widget.RawText.init(allocator, file);
+                                break :blk widget;
+                            }),
+                        })),
+                    })),
+                },
+            )),
+            Widget.createFrom(Widget.Spacer.init(allocator)),
+        })),
+    }));
     defer layout.deinit();
 
     try app.start();
diff --git a/src/layout/Framing.zig b/src/layout/Framing.zig
index 1399afd..054f660 100644
--- a/src/layout/Framing.zig
+++ b/src/layout/Framing.zig
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
     }
     const Events = std.ArrayList(Event);
     return struct {
+        allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
         size: terminal.Size = undefined,
         require_render: bool = true,
         element: Element = undefined,
@@ -49,12 +50,13 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
             };
         };
 
-        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, config: Config, element: Element) @This() {
-            return .{
-                .config = config,
-                .element = element,
-                .events = Events.init(allocator),
-            };
+        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, config: Config, element: Element) *@This() {
+            const layout = allocator.create(@This()) catch @panic("OOM");
+            layout.allocator = allocator;
+            layout.config = config;
+            layout.element = element;
+            layout.events = Events.init(allocator);
+            return layout;
         }
 
         pub fn deinit(this: *@This()) void {
@@ -67,6 +69,8 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
                     widget.deinit();
                 },
             }
+            this.allocator.destroy(this);
+            this.* = undefined;
         }
 
         pub fn handle(this: *@This(), event: Event) !*Events {
diff --git a/src/layout/HContainer.zig b/src/layout/HContainer.zig
index f9eefc7..dc368f6 100644
--- a/src/layout/HContainer.zig
+++ b/src/layout/HContainer.zig
@@ -36,11 +36,12 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
     const Events = std.ArrayList(Event);
     return struct {
         // TODO: current focused `Element`?
+        allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
         size: terminal.Size = undefined,
         containers: Containers = undefined,
         events: Events = undefined,
 
-        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, children: anytype) @This() {
+        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, children: anytype) *@This() {
             const ArgsType = @TypeOf(children);
             const args_type_info = @typeInfo(ArgsType);
             if (args_type_info != .Struct) {
@@ -87,10 +88,11 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
                 }
                 @compileError("nested child: " ++ field.name ++ " is not of type " ++ @typeName(WidgetType) ++ " or " ++ @typeName(LayoutType) ++ " but " ++ @typeName(ChildType));
             }
-            return .{
-                .containers = containers,
-                .events = Events.init(allocator),
-            };
+            const layout = allocator.create(@This()) catch @panic("OOM");
+            layout.allocator = allocator;
+            layout.containers = containers;
+            layout.events = Events.init(allocator);
+            return layout;
         }
 
         pub fn deinit(this: *@This()) void {
@@ -106,6 +108,8 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
                 }
             }
             this.containers.deinit();
+            this.allocator.destroy(this);
+            this.* = undefined;
         }
 
         pub fn handle(this: *@This(), event: Event) !*Events {
diff --git a/src/layout/HStack.zig b/src/layout/HStack.zig
index 7574b2d..ede2208 100644
--- a/src/layout/HStack.zig
+++ b/src/layout/HStack.zig
@@ -30,11 +30,12 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
     const Events = std.ArrayList(Event);
     return struct {
         // TODO: current focused `Element`?
+        allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
         size: terminal.Size = undefined,
         elements: Elements = undefined,
         events: Events = undefined,
 
-        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, children: anytype) @This() {
+        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, children: anytype) *@This() {
             const ArgsType = @TypeOf(children);
             const args_type_info = @typeInfo(ArgsType);
             if (args_type_info != .Struct) {
@@ -55,10 +56,11 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
                 }
                 @compileError("child: " ++ field.name ++ " is not of type " ++ @typeName(WidgetType) ++ " or " ++ @typeName(LayoutType) ++ " but " ++ @typeName(ChildType));
             }
-            return .{
-                .elements = elements,
-                .events = Events.init(allocator),
-            };
+            const layout = allocator.create(@This()) catch @panic("OOM");
+            layout.allocator = allocator;
+            layout.elements = elements;
+            layout.events = Events.init(allocator);
+            return layout;
         }
 
         pub fn deinit(this: *@This()) void {
@@ -74,6 +76,8 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
                 }
             }
             this.elements.deinit();
+            this.allocator.destroy(this);
+            this.* = undefined;
         }
 
         pub fn handle(this: *@This(), event: Event) !*Events {
diff --git a/src/layout/Margin.zig b/src/layout/Margin.zig
index 8d4feb5..45c0d00 100644
--- a/src/layout/Margin.zig
+++ b/src/layout/Margin.zig
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
     }
     const Events = std.ArrayList(Event);
     return struct {
+        allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
         size: terminal.Size = undefined,
         require_render: bool = false,
         element: Element = undefined,
@@ -40,18 +41,19 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
             bottom: u8 = 0,
         };
 
-        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, config: Config, element: Element) @This() {
+        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, config: Config, element: Element) *@This() {
             if (config.margin) |margin| {
                 std.debug.assert(margin <= 50);
             } else {
                 std.debug.assert(config.left + config.right < 100);
                 std.debug.assert(config.top + config.bottom < 100);
             }
-            return .{
-                .config = config,
-                .element = element,
-                .events = Events.init(allocator),
-            };
+            const layout = allocator.create(@This()) catch @panic("OOM");
+            layout.allocator = allocator;
+            layout.config = config;
+            layout.element = element;
+            layout.events = Events.init(allocator);
+            return layout;
         }
 
         pub fn deinit(this: *@This()) void {
@@ -64,6 +66,8 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
                     widget.deinit();
                 },
             }
+            this.allocator.destroy(this);
+            this.* = undefined;
         }
 
         pub fn handle(this: *@This(), event: Event) !*Events {
diff --git a/src/layout/Padding.zig b/src/layout/Padding.zig
index 65295e5..7b18f22 100644
--- a/src/layout/Padding.zig
+++ b/src/layout/Padding.zig
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
     }
     const Events = std.ArrayList(Event);
     return struct {
+        allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
         size: terminal.Size = undefined,
         require_render: bool = false,
         element: Element = undefined,
@@ -40,12 +41,13 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
             bottom: u16 = 0,
         };
 
-        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, config: Config, element: Element) @This() {
-            return .{
-                .config = config,
-                .element = element,
-                .events = Events.init(allocator),
-            };
+        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, config: Config, element: Element) *@This() {
+            const layout = allocator.create(@This()) catch @panic("OOM");
+            layout.allocator = allocator;
+            layout.config = config;
+            layout.element = element;
+            layout.events = Events.init(allocator);
+            return layout;
         }
 
         pub fn deinit(this: *@This()) void {
@@ -58,6 +60,8 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
                     widget.deinit();
                 },
             }
+            this.allocator.destroy(this);
+            this.* = undefined;
         }
 
         pub fn handle(this: *@This(), event: Event) !*Events {
diff --git a/src/layout/VContainer.zig b/src/layout/VContainer.zig
index af1a6f5..711a311 100644
--- a/src/layout/VContainer.zig
+++ b/src/layout/VContainer.zig
@@ -36,11 +36,12 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
     const Events = std.ArrayList(Event);
     return struct {
         // TODO: current focused `Element`?
+        allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
         size: terminal.Size = undefined,
         containers: Containers = undefined,
         events: Events = undefined,
 
-        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, children: anytype) @This() {
+        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, children: anytype) *@This() {
             const ArgsType = @TypeOf(children);
             const args_type_info = @typeInfo(ArgsType);
             if (args_type_info != .Struct) {
@@ -87,10 +88,11 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
                 }
                 @compileError("nested child: " ++ field.name ++ " is not of type " ++ @typeName(WidgetType) ++ " or " ++ @typeName(LayoutType) ++ " but " ++ @typeName(ChildType));
             }
-            return .{
-                .containers = containers,
-                .events = Events.init(allocator),
-            };
+            const layout = allocator.create(@This()) catch @panic("OOM");
+            layout.allocator = allocator;
+            layout.containers = containers;
+            layout.events = Events.init(allocator);
+            return layout;
         }
 
         pub fn deinit(this: *@This()) void {
@@ -106,6 +108,8 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
                 }
             }
             this.containers.deinit();
+            this.allocator.destroy(this);
+            this.* = undefined;
         }
 
         pub fn handle(this: *@This(), event: Event) !*Events {
diff --git a/src/layout/VStack.zig b/src/layout/VStack.zig
index eefe7e2..7720e7e 100644
--- a/src/layout/VStack.zig
+++ b/src/layout/VStack.zig
@@ -30,11 +30,12 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
     const Events = std.ArrayList(Event);
     return struct {
         // TODO: current focused `Element`?
+        allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
         size: terminal.Size = undefined,
         elements: Elements = undefined,
         events: Events = undefined,
 
-        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, children: anytype) @This() {
+        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, children: anytype) *@This() {
             const ArgsType = @TypeOf(children);
             const args_type_info = @typeInfo(ArgsType);
             if (args_type_info != .Struct) {
@@ -55,10 +56,11 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
                 }
                 @compileError("child: " ++ field.name ++ " is not of type " ++ @typeName(WidgetType) ++ " or " ++ @typeName(LayoutType) ++ " but " ++ @typeName(ChildType));
             }
-            return .{
-                .elements = elements,
-                .events = Events.init(allocator),
-            };
+            const layout = allocator.create(@This()) catch @panic("OOM");
+            layout.allocator = allocator;
+            layout.elements = elements;
+            layout.events = Events.init(allocator);
+            return layout;
         }
 
         pub fn deinit(this: *@This()) void {
@@ -74,6 +76,8 @@ pub fn Layout(comptime Event: type, comptime Element: type, comptime Renderer: t
                 }
             }
             this.elements.deinit();
+            this.allocator.destroy(this);
+            this.* = undefined;
         }
 
         pub fn handle(this: *@This(), event: Event) !*Events {
diff --git a/src/widget/RawText.zig b/src/widget/RawText.zig
index cf9cf29..1d76dd3 100644
--- a/src/widget/RawText.zig
+++ b/src/widget/RawText.zig
@@ -14,13 +14,14 @@ pub fn Widget(comptime Event: type, comptime Renderer: type) type {
     }
     const Contents = std.ArrayList(u8);
     return struct {
+        allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
         contents: Contents = undefined,
         line_index: std.ArrayList(usize) = undefined,
         line: usize = 0,
         size: terminal.Size = undefined,
         require_render: bool = false,
 
-        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, file: std.fs.File) @This() {
+        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, file: std.fs.File) *@This() {
             var contents = Contents.init(allocator);
             var line_index = std.ArrayList(usize).init(allocator);
             file.reader().readAllArrayList(&contents, std.math.maxInt(usize)) catch {};
@@ -30,15 +31,17 @@ pub fn Widget(comptime Event: type, comptime Renderer: type) type {
                     line_index.append(i + 1) catch {};
                 }
             }
-            return .{
-                .contents = contents,
-                .line_index = line_index,
-            };
+            const widget = allocator.create(@This()) catch @panic("OOM");
+            widget.allocator = allocator;
+            widget.contents = contents;
+            widget.line_index = line_index;
+            return widget;
         }
 
         pub fn deinit(this: *@This()) void {
             this.contents.deinit();
             this.line_index.deinit();
+            this.allocator.destroy(this);
             this.* = undefined;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/widget/Spacer.zig b/src/widget/Spacer.zig
index 3c608ae..7af4c9c 100644
--- a/src/widget/Spacer.zig
+++ b/src/widget/Spacer.zig
@@ -11,14 +11,18 @@ pub fn Widget(comptime Event: type, comptime Renderer: type) type {
         @compileError("Provided user event `Event` for `Layout(comptime Event: type)` is not of type `union(enum)`.");
     }
     return struct {
+        allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
         size: terminal.Size = undefined,
         size_changed: bool = false,
 
-        pub fn init() @This() {
-            return .{};
+        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) *@This() {
+            const widget = allocator.create(@This()) catch @panic("OOM");
+            widget.allocator = allocator;
+            return widget;
         }
 
         pub fn deinit(this: *@This()) void {
+            this.allocator.destroy(this);
             this.* = undefined;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/widget/Text.zig b/src/widget/Text.zig
index 9a5f977..577d26d 100644
--- a/src/widget/Text.zig
+++ b/src/widget/Text.zig
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ pub fn Widget(comptime Event: type, comptime Renderer: type) type {
         @compileError("Provided user event `Event` for `Layout(comptime Event: type)` is not of type `union(enum)`.");
     }
     return struct {
+        allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
         alignment: Alignment = undefined,
         contents: []const Cell = undefined,
         size: terminal.Size = undefined,
@@ -26,14 +27,16 @@ pub fn Widget(comptime Event: type, comptime Renderer: type) type {
             right,
         };
 
-        pub fn init(alignment: Alignment, contents: []const Cell) @This() {
-            return .{
-                .alignment = alignment,
-                .contents = contents,
-            };
+        pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, alignment: Alignment, contents: []const Cell) *@This() {
+            const widget = allocator.create(@This()) catch @panic("OOM");
+            widget.allocator = allocator;
+            widget.alignment = alignment;
+            widget.contents = contents;
+            return widget;
         }
 
         pub fn deinit(this: *@This()) void {
+            this.allocator.destroy(this);
             this.* = undefined;
         }