It’s almost as if you’ve been 
reborn.

The moment 
you can take a breath
without feeling yourself
drowning.
Cement is no longer
running through your veins
slowing every movement,
because now it is only gravel.
Your head is now 
not filled with buzzing static,
and instead 
the distant sound of 
electric storm clouds.
Enraged fire 
replaces the
sleeping snow.

You are finally seeing
instead of looking,
and everything is
blinding.
You are finally feeling
instead of touching,
and everything is
piercing.
You are finally listening 
instead of hearing,
and everything is 
deafening.
You are finally savoring
instead of tasting,
and everything is
poison. 

Death is no longer your 
freedom, but your
chain.

And so
you inhale
and you
exhale

and finally you
breathe