On the absence of light and living fully

I wore empathy on my sleeve from a young age.

it was, the hue of grief

it was, the spectrum of possibility

it was, your hand in mine

and so I was both mine and theirs and yours

carrying feelings like a backpack that I never took off

my skin was flecked with words running wild

that were never intended to stay

and yet

they became the palette

for emotions I didn’t know the name for yet

it was, the tightening of my chest

it was, the clenching of teeth

it was, the swell of safety

and so my skin didn’t know where to end | begin

my senses were gluttonous, and I would close my eyes

like floodgates

the sourness of a ripe cherry painted on my face

puckered lips

juice running down my pale chin

experiencing things so deeply

naked with vulnerability

gravity keeping me here

I am untethered

I am shades of warmth

I am not meant to bear the weight —

like a badge of honour

at the cost of my own survival

It took time to understand

that well-being is like water

no less essential

a cast of glory over the waves

carrying me home