the silver ribbon of steam rising from my
coffee cup. the familiar shuffle of pages
beneath my fingers. a morning spent
without a word, without a sound, other
than the birds finding their way back to
the spring trees. I am teaching myself
silence again. I am coaxing stillness.
leaving the door open and an empty chair
for my thoughts to find me. set on
squeezing the most from every moment,
what a strain its become to slow down.
two hours without checking in. blue light
stripped from my sleep. not a whisper
from the world outside this room.
my brain breathes. in the solitude, I’m
returned to me. how lonely I’ve been for
emptiness.
feb 3, 2026





















