It’s Been A Long Time Coming

She whispers her secrets to a night sky strung with tiny lights that wink as she speaks,

It feels a bit like Christmas as Mother Nature turns on her Christmas lights after the sun has been put to bed,

The dark velvety night wraps her in its warm cloak of comfort,

While she listens to the silence, the lack of normal human sounds,

And feels the stress melt from her shoulders.

******

The warm breeze carries the smell of smoke from the burning fire,

As it crackles and pops, orange and blue flames twisting in a dance of delight,

Warming the bare soles of her feet, until she sighs with gratitude,

Comfortable in her solitude.

******

Off in the distance she hears an owl hooting,

The echo bouncing through the treetops to gladden her heart,

Closer, she hears the soft lapping of water against the reeds,

The frogs chorusing a tune for her sole entertainment,

And a rustle from the bushes as the night animals come out to play.

******

She finds some peace knowing she has shrugged off all expectations,

Her responsibilities put on hold for a time,

Free to just be,

To feel, to process, to self-reflect, to forget for a short while.

******

She loves that nobody needs her,

That nobody is waiting for her, that she’s not meant to be anywhere but exactly where she is,

Her absence doesn’t offend anyone, it goes unnoticed,

And most importantly, she’s exactly where she wants to be,

With who she wants to be with.

******

This is her definition of absolute freedom, her little patch of heaven,

Free to be her utmost authentic self,

For the first time in a very long time, she feels like she’s finally come home,

And with a breath of release, she closes her eyes with a smile and a thankful heart.