With anchoring curiosity

With wandering eyes

With a restless mind

With my mother’s number on speed dial

With nightlights for my shadows

By collecting jars of rainwater

By meditating

By dissociating & returning

By dissociating & returning

By dissociating & returning

With pinky promises, forehead kisses, & hand holding

With childhood totems to lead me home

With childhood journals as tokens of growth

With the taste of smoke (unfortunately)

Without the constant taste of alcohol (fortunately)

By cursing loudly & wailing silently

By burning candles through the night & alchemizing the light

By puzzle piecing the flame inside of me

By saluting the sun & pining after the moon

By trying to make space (intentionally)

By trying to take up space (intentionally)