one.

the first step is always
the hardest, like learning
to breathe and swim and wish
and sometimes, you sink and
sometimes, you need someone
to rescue you.

but when you finally learn,
it's like locks clicking and
hearts singing and holding
hands and suddenly,

everything makes sense.

.

two.

you held sadness
close to your chest, content knowing
this is something no one
can take away.

and then you start to think
that maybe, happiness could work like this,
too,
and wouldn't that be amazing?

.

three.

realize that you
want to have happy dreams
to put in photo album memories,

and you want
to write a letter
to yourself and it would say

you are beautiful

and you want
to believe it.

.

four.

wonder if black holes
only pull things towards them
because they're lonely

and wish
you could keep them
company.

.

five.

realize that you shouldn't
let your past
ruin the present
or the future.

.

six.

the only ghosts and demons
are within
yourself.

chase them away, away,
away.

.

seven.

i haven't found this
one yet. maybe it's in
the stick-on stars on
my ceiling, or the fog floating
on the lake, or maybe

the kids playing next doors,
or holding hands when you
cross the street with someone, or when
you stop looking for things
and realizing you've known
where they are
all along.