Still Breathing

On feeling more hopeful, more victorious, more triumphant than what it wants to allow you.

August 23, 2024

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I’m here! I’m alive! I’m right here, I’m standing right here!
My hands are moving! They won’t stop moving. 

I’m finding my voice!
Listen! Read!
Read my voice! Hear my lines!
I’m here, I’m breathing, I’m present!
I am so here! I am so present!

See my chest expand, see how I breathe!
I’m alive! I’m here in this space and time, right here, right now!
I have blood coursing, alive, nutrient-rich and loaded through me.
My fucking blood is loaded for bear and I’m still here!

I deserve this.
You deserve this.
You deserve this breath; I deserve this breath.

None of us asked to be here.
We all arrived from no will of our own.
We all deserve chests that rise,
Steam from our lips that fogs the windows,
Heartbeats that drive us to move and fight and love!

Don’t worry about the panic, love — that’s just our minds making sure we’re still alive.
We fear because we want so badly to live!

We’re doing it. We’re winning!
We know we’re winning ’cause we’re still fucking here!