My body lightens and expands as if rising from a great depth, muscles strengthening in places I didn’t know muscles existed, clarity of thought replacing the dissipating fog, the building thunder of my heart threatening to shatter my ribs. My fingers barely hit the right keys as I struggle to express the joy and contentment that encompasses me. Their words, spoken to hold me captive to the dark places in the world, are without effect for I can no longer be constrained without my own permission.

One more nudge and I hope that I will expand into the universe that surrounds me, and I won’t return.