1 Take a breath and live as you please.

You can take a breath,

And feel its chill as it makes its way into you making you wonder just how long you have been cold,

You can take a breath,

And feel its warmth make you long for the warmth of another as it wraps your mind in its chaotic embrace,

You can take a breath,

And not even think about the feeling it brings into you and it confuses you,

Every breath you draw is one of confusion,

You wage a war not a single soul knowing what it is you fight against,

You don't know what it is you fight for,

And yet you will give it your all until you eventually realize what it means if you succeed or fail,

You have no idea what you will gain,

You have no idea what you will lose,

All that you know is that you will lose all feeling if you don't remind yourself,

Remind yourself to take a breath.

Inhale darling, make the choice that is best for you.

If the shallow wispy breath you draw is one of sorrow,

Listen for what it whispers to you and ask yourself once again,

What is it you fight for?

What is the purpose you have been seeking in your life?

Don't stress, you know it will take time to find and it will hurt you and others,

But only once you allow yourself to breathe with closure,

Regardless of whether that breath will make you feel as if you are in pieces.

Just know the breaths you draw will ultimately be worth it all.

Their time may be running out,

But you have so much time to just breathe,

And whether you breathe your woes in silence or put it on display,

That is your choice and trust that if you show others how hard it is for you to take that breath,

It may not be me,

It may not be her,

It may not him,

It may not be them,

Just know whoever it is they will help you along the way if you let your pride sink and allow yourself to think about whether you really need it.

After all of that, even if you lose yourself for a moment,

You may find yourself completely changed,

For better or for worse.