A Laugh
The room is crowded,
as I knew it would be.
Anxiety fills each breath
and weighs down my limbs,
as I knew it would.
A space for me doesn’t exist here,
but I promised to come.
Instead of retreating back
through the door behind me
as my rapid heart encourages,
instead of advancing farther
to find an unoccupied corner
as my mind urges,
I stand frozen,
a rock in a river of bodies
that easily dance around me,
as if I am not an obstacle
as if my presence is inconsequential.
And then everything changes.
Muscles loosen,
breaths let in needed calm
and remove doubts.
Her laugh pierces the chaos around me,
and I turn in relief.
I know how that voice
will gladly call out my name.
I know how that voice
will invite me into a circle of conversation.
I know how that voice
will wrap me in comfort.
I know who belongs to that voice
and that, next to her,
I have a place.
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