I stay kind,
but I am bruised
by trust that was bent
by jealousy wearing a smile.
I feel the ache
of being misread
by someone who never asked
or really tried
to understand.

Today,
I walked into the woods.
My head filled with
an assortment of random thoughts.
Mental potpourri.
The trees didn’t ask questions.
They just stood there,
breathing in a way that reminded me
I could slow down too.
Somewhere between the crunch of leaves
and the quiet hum of the wind swaying the trees,
the universe adjusted my shoulders,
straightened my thoughts,
softened its grip
and reminded me to calm down
and just be.