it's waking up at 4 in the afternoon
making pasta for breakfast,
neglecting the dishes + laundry
and realizing that's okay.

it's looking in the mirror and,
instead of feeling detached
& looking away, locking eyes with the
parallel representation & feeling grounded.

it's swallowing back that metallic taste,
past the lump in your throat,
blinking away salty beads,
putting on some lipstick and holding your head high.

it's that feeling when a popsicle melts
all over you & gets you terribly sticky,
remembering more carefree times that entailed
scraped knees and many a sticky snack.

it's being able to miss someone
but not quite long for them.
it's remembering the good moments
instead of letting the ugly drown them out.