A Blessing for the Tunnel

If no one else will say it — oh, nobody here but me? Great.

This is hard.

I’m allowed to say that, without the need to add

“But I’m lucky,”

or

“But others have it worse.”

I’m allowed to want a light.

I’m allowed to want more than fortitude.

I’m allowed to feel the stretch marks of becoming

and not want to be stretched anymore.

May tonight bring me softness, not solutions.

Warmth, not wisdom.

A cat curled on my lap. A breath that doesn’t ache.

A reminder that even when the plotline makes no sense,

I’m not lost.

I’m just at the part of the story

where the hero rests.