I’ve fallen so many times,

and I’ve always picked myself back up.

My bones have broken.

My flesh has been bruised.

My body is littered with the scars—

seen and unseen—

of my past;

of the ghosts that haunt

the halls of my mind.

But I am slowly making peace

with them now,

and I know

I need not fear them.

I am filling up

the empty rooms of my soul

and opening up

the curtains.

And as I stand

with my face turned toward the sun,

feeling the warmth on my face

and on my eyelids,

I can feel something new being born—

rising inside of my chest;

an eternal flame that is growing bigger.

My soul is renewing.

My heart is healing.

My mind is finding peace.

I am becoming.

I am whole.