you’re deep underwater
you crawl up into a ball
you know the water has already went inside your lungs
but still,
you breathe.

you pray that maybe,
you’ll get used to breathing underwater
—with your eyes closed and mouth shut.
you scream so loud though only the water hears you,
doing anything but comfort you.

for the longest time,
you have felt this way
and i can’t blame you
i’ve been there too.

but i want you to open your eyes
even if all you can see is the darkness, open them.
i want you to move your arms, swim.
i want you to realize,
you’ve been sinking yourself all this time.
if only you stretched your feet,
you’ll feel the floor so close to you.
i want you to stand up and get out of that pool
you’ve always thought was an ocean.

now you’re head’s above water,
you stretch your arms,
you know the air has already went inside your lungs
and now,
you breathe.