from the forthcoming series - "return of the muse"

she breathes

she breathes in the balmy island air
but the wave of hurt has yet to recede
she shivers despite the sticky humidity
sweat simmers the pores of her humility
and her hand reaches to the sea, for relief
she knows it is close
she knows she must rise

she breathes beside me
in unison, we pause with baited anticipation
of discovering new moments, a new air
of uncertainty that wills itself tall
we willingly choose to break the fall

she breathes
and I breathe with her