What comes back
Poetry
I held it in my hands
Tightly squeezing my grip so it would not get out
I could feel it struggle as the light that fed it disappeared
My heart grew strong, as did my courage
I knew it was for the best, I had lived with it for too long
As long as I could remember, really. Forever!
It was part of me, but no longer
*
I looked at my hands
Palms together, strongly pushing against each other
I sensed that it had shriveled to specks by now
No longer a threat, no longer attached to me
I felt relief, the pressure seemed to have gone
I cupped one hand on to the other and poured the imaginary ashen dust into my right palm
I closed my eyes and threw the hardest pitch towards the susurrating sea;
anything left would soon dissolve in the salty waters of the Pacific
*
I fell back into the soft sand
I did snow angels as I stared at the moon
I cherished the rebirth
“A new life,” I thought
I can finally be me — free
Free from what has possessed me
I closed my eyes; the cold ocean water touched my toes
*
I jumped back up
full of spirit
I knew there was no going back
A cloud covered the bright white moon
A cold breeze hit my skin
I started to shiver, the hairs on my skin rose in excitement
My fear was back, it didn’t take long to come home.
Originally published on Medium on 2026-05-06.