down in New Orleans

there is something about suffocating humidity that makes you step out of your body and examine your life. examine your surroundings. examine your belonging.

sitting in the thick air at Audubon park, a certain peace came over me. years of wondering if I would ever fit in or be apart of it left my body. they say that acceptance is the final stage of grief, but was I even grieving?

with every exhale sitting on that park bench, my soul got lighter. breathe in the sticky air, breathe out the desperation to impress. breathe in peace, breathe in quiet, breathe out the need to be anyone but me.

it may not always be this way. but for now, it will be what it will be.