Second nature

Breathe in… and out goes,

“I will always be there, even when you need me most”

Breathe in… and out goes,

“I’m sorry it won’t happen again”

I breathe in…

And a hand appears.

It’s open.

I give my hand to those exhales.

My hand was open to show my naked vulnerability.

I show my hand to welcome those exhales of meaning into my existence.

That hand welcomed an exhale worth more than someone’s dying breath,

Because that exhale held life, new life.

It was what you may call words and phrases,

But I call those promises,

The words you say to make your breaths into reality.

And so, I am stuck exhaling.

I am stuck still showing my open and vulnerable hand.

I am still stuck having my hand reach out to touch that promise you made.

To touch new life

And hope.

But I take a deep breath in…

Because I exhaled for far too long.

I breathe in the sweet air that I missed.                                                                                                                                                                                             

And I breathe to see that all my hand caught,

Was not your promise,

Yet, an exhale.

But can I blame you though,

For being human?

It’s only in our nature to breathe.