The Lungs of Therapy

Charlotte Brydon

Evolving 2022 - 2025

And I breathed,

and breathed,

and breathed,

while my chest

pumped up and down

with all the vast confusion,

terror, and fear.

I laughed and cried

for all that had been

and the destruction.

It took the strong arms

of all the women I knew

to help me hold onto myself.

And as I leaned

into their heaving chests.

I knew I could call myself

into presence

and survive whatever came.

I hoped for all the repair,

that I could be good enough,

even though I knew perfection didn’t exist

Good enough was more than there had been,

and I rejoiced

with the trees,

the sea,

and the simple things

as I came back

into

with myself.

I would not forget this moment,

when the metal of me

was forged in the fire of my sadness.

I knew I would rise again,

but for now,

I unravelled

and trusted

that life would hold me quietly from beneath,

and all would be well again.