At last, the tide has receeded,
the pebbles are visible at my toes
I pick one up and hold it tenderly,
the polished stone glistening in the sunlight
I caress it
revel in its smoothness...so soothing
its luxurious caramel colour
I wonder at the intricate spider web of lineage that covers it
The fog has cleared
my breathing is deep,steady and even
I smile deeply,
from the heart,
it reaches my eyes
and the telltale lines that crease at their sides
Spontaneous laughter has returned to my world
bubbling forth,
giggling, piercing the silence
warmth surrounds me once again
my world has opened up and widened,
i no longer need to shelter or hide
l embrace looking into the eyes of others,
the contract so natural and easy
no longer needing to seek out hairlines or over shoulders
as l hid my own eyes, trying to hide the window into the depths of my being
my once fragile soul restored to its former glory
I breathe, deep, steady and even
Enjoying the moment,
every moment
all the moments
embracing the here and now
