Akashma Online News

By Marivel Guzman

There was a time
when I wandered in the timeless silence of solitude.
My books and pen were my only companions,
and life felt dull, empty, and sad.

I was alone.

There was a time
when I flew in all directions without a compass,
where the winds of the East overpowered the West.
I longed to return, but I had no place to call home.
I felt adrift.

I was lost.

There was a time
when “meaning” lost its meaning,
and living became a painful duty.
Eating was no longer a choice,
writing, my secret refuge,
and sleep, my only escape.
Yet, even in dreams, I was lost.

I was exhausted.

There was a time
when the air was heavy to breathe,
my chest refused to expand,
my eyelids felt like lead,
and my heart was cold as ice.
Living seemed a waste of time,
too tired even to feel tired.

I was sad.

There was a time
when spring lost its colors.
The birds sang no more,
swelling buds withered,
seeds refused to germinate.
My garden lost its essence—
no birds or butterflies to nurture it.

I was dying.

But time moved forward,
even as it seemed to slip away from me.
My world became small,
confined, suffocating.
Yet with courage, I stretched my will,
and survived the loneliness
of countless sleepless nights.

I’m living again.

I stepped back from the edge of death
and found a world brimming with life.
Mountains bloomed with majestic colors,
birds waved their goodbyes, migrating North and South.
My garden blossomed into an Eden once more—
alive with bees, insects, and butterflies.
I breathed deeply,
and the cool, refreshing air awakened me.
Winter wrapped me in its warm embrace,
reminding me to welcome the season of rest.

I’m fresh, like a morning rose.
My heart beats joyfully,
a loyal companion that never abandoned me.
Its gentle rhythm reminds me—
I was never truly alone, lost, or sad.
It was always there,
comforting me with its steadfast pulse.

And now, “winter warm” is my companion,
a guiding light on my journey,
an anchor to keep me steady.
It fuels my dreams of tomorrows to come,
a paradise to rest in,
and a refuge when I need to escape.

June 06, 2022 by Marivel Guzman