alone and together

you saw specks of light, fireflies,

falling through the air under the

street lamps, illuminated by the

headlights. but they were only

falling leaves.

they were just as beautiful.

you remembered that you

are human. there were two

accidents on the same road,

different cars, one on the way

there and one on the way back.

it gets dark so early and why

does that instill a terror in you?

you were reminded that you

are your own person, that

your existence does not depend

on another. the barista recognized

you, and - human kindness -

you were seen. all it took was for

him to ask you what's on your

jacket, and recognize the water

lilies on your wallet.

human minds are simple and

stupid. you were pleased, you

felt better about being alone.

you're not just a body or a

floating mind, and you've

always felt safe here, among

your people, in a coffee shop

you're moving away from.

you are not an accessory.

you have free will.

you do not lose personhood

because you are alone.

words were easy, you were alive.

things fell into place: you knew

where to look, even when you're

a little blind. you were brave in

ways no one else finds brave.

you found a friend, two, three.

you were not alone, you did

not drown. the stars came up,

the moon peeked through the

rainclouds, you parked your

car on the same street as the

person you knew the most, the

reason you'd crawled out of your

house in the first place. and in

the rain, he said a quick casual

bye, like it wasn't the last time

you might ever see each other

again.

sometimes you are too scared

to live, and sometimes

the universe gives you a hug

in the form of strangers

because it is ok, you are alive,

and you, alone and together,

are human.

11.14.24