& in the winding timeline

of my life

i have discovered myself

ten times over.

learning what it feels like

to have a voice

to be afraid

to dream

to forget.

with second chances comes

the ability

to capture shining moments

in drops of amber

& to let them mean more

than they probably should.

& suddenly i’m 17, &

thinking too much

about the future

about grades & scores

about my friends

meanwhile i’m only halfway through

version #11.

anticipation & nostalgia

regret & excitement.

each carrying identical weight

because you can miss all ten

versions of yourself

& simultaneously

can’t wait to meet

all of the rest.

- s.p.