when I was 5 years old

the ocean swallowed me

and I swallowed her .

my uncle pulled my body

out of the ripping tides

and forced her out.

in the moments

of my drowned recollection

i only hoped that I was going

where I was meant to be

and indeed fate intervened.

I hope this is the same.

I hope your leaving

is just life

being forced

back into my lungs.

– sheila c