i promise

i look to the light-bathed hills on the horizon;

feeling the sun warm my skin,

the bass push against my ears

the wind bite my cheeks.

my soul grows quiet as i listen to faint laughter in the distance.

i am the gravel under my feet and the birds above my head,

the leaves falling off branches changing as i have countless times.

the trees wave at me and for the first time since i was a child i remember i can wave back.

in the back of my head a younger voice i hear only in memories calls out to me,

does everything turn out ok?

i look back out to the light-bathed hills on the horizon;

cheeks red from the cold, eyes straining against the light

i see the clouds answer where i find myself tongue-tied.

yes, it will. i promise.