My lungs learned your name
before my mouth ever dared to.
They held you like oxygen,
something vital,
but too sacred to waste carelessly.
Every breath became a practice in restraint
inhale love,
exhale silence.
I wasn’t ready,
so my lungs did the loving for me:
quiet, careful, disciplined.
Even now,
they hesitate between breaths,
as if the air might still taste like you,
as if loving loudly
might collapse my chest.
I didn’t leave you.
I just taught my lungs
to survive without you.
~PJNK
Jan 19
Jan 19, 2026 at 6:48 PM UTC
My lungs learned your name
before my mouth ever dared to.
They held you like oxygen,
something vital,
but too sacred to waste carelessly.
Every breath became a practice in restraint
inhale love,
exhale silence.
I wasn’t ready,
so my lungs did the loving for me:
quiet, careful, disciplined.
Even now,
they hesitate between breaths,
as if the air might still taste like you,
as if loving loudly
might collapse my chest.
I didn’t leave you.
I just taught my lungs
to survive without you.
~PJNK