With timid breaths awakening she eases precarious legs

twisted like fiery flywheels pining for borderline gait

arms nearly ready to once more hug again in unison with her heart

when not so long ago laden with plaster purple thick and pin burdened

digging sluggishly exposing the rawness of her skin

Feline warmth times two nestled into the downy swirl of quilted breathing

a steadiness slowly emerges calming her savaged fragile shell

Reaching down with her good hand touching fur

she realizes recapitulation in this recuperation

this

is

life

triumphant

Where once

in not so distant past

her security within her own body eluded her

by eyes of needles and tingling threads

inserted deeply into bone

clawing chewing at her insides like hungry belly bulging rats

She could almost feel whole again

Torn and mending flesh scars prove evidence of her survival

eyelids a bit blurry heavy with taunting weighted tears

still she saw past the bed covers’ downy horizon

despite tossing about twisted from last night’s terrors and dreams

Just this side of being on the outside her window she watches impatiently still

undulating branches bring back reality with the weight of woodpeckers as

ancient redwoods keep sentry saluting her moxie every which way with wonder

she marveled at the glow of how amazing this day actually is

in its simplicity in its testimony to life’s perpetuation in perseverance

Part of it all, she realized, she was part of all of this earthly world

her body may be broken but her spirit remains bright

though a once solid foundation beneath her cracked and split

she could feel herself emerging transcendant

Where once quicksand sucked at her into a vortex

she was rising above the not-so-sweet treacle and brimstone grind

she found herself wittingly able to pull herself onto the rolling chair

take it for a spin knowing she would once again dance like before freedom fell

Easier this then on that blessed day, horrah-horray for this vessel’s cracks, she cried

for in those cracks she found the light more easily welcomed