Shedding layers of a universe
Where her past echoed threads
Of a reality she no longer carried.
Crying in pain as the loss of self
Began to reveal an identity
She wasn’t familiar with
A chaos unfolded that
Felt safer in that moment
More than the silence
Of the moon that seemed to stand still
Amidst those gleaming stars.
It just stared at her.
Yes, the moon just stared at her.
She didn’t ask for this transformation
Yet the vessel that was her home
Gave her no choice nor did the moon for that matter.
She didn’t ask for this baptism,
This ritual or purification.
She didn’t ask to be saved or reborn.
Yet layer upon layer disappeared into
Emptiness until her rage at the moon
Finally softened into surrender.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Her breath began to feel safe again.
Her mind quieted as the moon drew closer
and lit up the night sky like nothing she ever witnessed.
She stopped howling.
And before she knew it, laughter poured from her soul.
It was so loud the moon began to laugh with her.
The stars joined in and the whole universe
couldn’t contain itself.
I don’t think she even remembered how much pain she was in.