you are within me

i am a part of you

you grew me inside of you

your food was my food

your body was my home

when i was pulled out into this world, i was attached to you

but even infants are forced to let go

i was helpless without you

your body fed me

your arms held me

your love kept me alive

even as i grew, i couldn’t cross the street without holding your hand

as the world unfolded before me, you held me when i cried

when the world would hurt me, you showed me how to be strong

and when the world was kind to me, you taught me how to enjoy it

and as i grew, each day i was forced to let go a little more

now here i am

walking along the shore

the beach of

glorious

terrifying

dwindling

years of adolescence

the waves of adulthood crashing on the shore

waiting to carry me away

but they haven’t yet

and though it often feels like we’re holding on by a thread

but i know that you’re holding onto your end as tight as you can

and even know i still must let go a little more each day

and i wonder

does it hurt? when the one who lived in your body as their home

begins to let go