WHEN…
Brittany Lopez
i.
the marrow of your bones feels as if it is seeping out to leave you dry and brittle, shower
yourself in love to crush the agony within.
ii.
the sun no longer shines, but only serves to highlight the festering darkness within, bask
in the heat and burn off the dreary fog.
iii. the bones that lend you strength no longer feel as if they can support the weight of your
skin, remember that you are worth more than your weight in gold.
iv. the vines curl into the shape of a noose, seize the vines to pull yourself out of the dark,
bottomless pit.
v.
the tongue feels too clumsy to convey the words that press against your white, shuttered
teeth, allow them to flow through your fingers onto paper.
vi. the flower petals turn to blades, use them to cut through the dark and gloomy haze.
vii. the breath in your lungs feels as if each pass between your lips is a shard of glass, take
those pieces and create the mosaic of your life.
viii. the trees intimidate you with their towering silence, root yourself in the knowledge that
you too can weather any storm.
ix. the blood in your veins feel as if it is pulling you under its rushing current, throw
yourself a lifesaver and float along the tide.
x.
the wind no longer feels like a gentle caress, but acts like the gale force of a hurricane,
harness its resistance to build yourself against the obstacles.
xi. the soul feels too heavy for its nest within your ribcage, insert your key and twist the
lock: let the past rest in peace.
xii. the sea cloys at your darkest dreams—pulling you in and pushing you out in a merciless
torrent, know that no matter where the waters take you there is always a shoreline just
ahead.
xiii. the skin feels as if it is crawling with bugs and too tight to keep you together without
splitting, focus on the beauty of being whole, of being you.
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