count to one, two, three
take a deep, deep breath
expand your chest
let it all go slowly
take another
let it out
slower.

count to five this time
slap yourself in the face
does it sting?
if not, again
do it until
you wake
up.

there’s no more counting
get up, shake off yourself
become new, leave your past
there on the floor,
and see how different it is
how unlike you it is
how little it means
as you go
forward.

take one, two, three steps
with your new legs.
feel how your new feet
bury themselves
in this new earth.
start walking a new path
and find yourself a new
destination.

come on,
it’s time to go.