Treading Water

My head is just barely
above the water.
I’m gasping for breath
and flailing
and failing
and oh my God
I might sink
I might lose this battle
but I’m kicking and flailing
and splashing and
I want to live I want to break the surface and breathe so I
swim hard, so hard and I
fight the current and
and drag myself
out of the depths of the sea-
this ocean of despair and I do.
I pull myself up and out and to solid ground.
I made it.
I’m
Here.
Grounded.
At least for a moment.
This is
My chance
to stand on solid ground.
I made it.
I’m ready.
Let’s go.