Wait, I’m on the phone!

In the great space of my mother’s office, I sat on the cool hardwood floor and twiddled my fingers waiting for her to get off an ‘important’ call. “Wait,” she whispered. “I’m on the phone.” My mother was always on the phone. And by the time she was able to listen, the words had already slipped out of my mind. She wasn’t a bad mother, in fact she was my biggest role model. The best dressed woman in the building, office up high in the clouds, and people always wanting to talk with her on the phone. I wanted to be just as important. To have people lining up to talk to me. To get to tell them to wait. 

I thought that our trip to the keys could get momma off the phone. I ended up going without her. Cousin Kaely’s mom was the complete opposite of mine. She talked way too much and even had something to say to herself in the kitchen while washing the dishes. Cousin Kaely was on the phone all night with her friends just like momma. And so I stayed up too. I made friends on Skype to spend long nights on the phone with. So when momma came to tell me to go to bed, I told her “Wait, I’m on the phone!”

Leap

As the pitch black stage awaited my presence, my nerves coiled as if there were butterflies dancing in my tummy. I took heavy footsteps to my position on stage. And just on the other side of the thin red curtains I heard laughing, babies whining, and people murmuring. It was as if they were whispering about me. The few seconds it took for the curtains to open up had felt like hours. The weight of anticipation hung in the air, but as the soft melody of the piano began to play, the world outside my spotlight had disappeared. It was as if I was dancing alone. My body weaved through each note and my heart’s rhythm matched the one of the song. It was just me and the music, and nothing else. 

The Moments Down & Under

Waking hours are the enemy of my story. Like the world is at peace when I am at rest. Being under the warmth of my bed sheets is already enough to escape from reality. Drowning in that layer of fuzz from the third duvet, keeping me from the itch of my problems. The second layer of cotton that keeps the never-ending sheep from escaping my mind. Fears that lurk in the darkness instead become my friends- but not for long. I awaken just seconds before the gruesome sound of my alarm goes off, immediately shutting my eyes again to savor the moment. Just me, my blankets, and hope. 

Salt Air

My whole existence had seemed intertwined with summers. Like life doesn’t truly commence until June, until I’m at that beach, in that house. The beach house becomes my sanctuary, where the rhythm of waves orchestrates the symphony of my summers. The salt air carries my anticipation for adventure, and each grain of sand holds a tale of fleeting moments. As the sun dips below the horizon, my soul finds solace in the hues of twilight. It’s within those seaside walls that I discover the essence of living—laughter, whispered secrets, and the tide’s endless dancing.

Sanctuary Essentials: Items That Make Your House a Home

• a doormat; it not only keeps dirt outside, but also serves as a welcoming gesture which creates an inviting entrance. Doormats can symbolize the threshold of the outside world as you step over it into the comfort of your home.

• mirrors; for the reflection of both light, and memories
• succulent; caring for a succulent is like caring for a comfortable home. Neither take much effort for the beauty of its simplicity to shine through
• tray; both decorative and useful. For the things you just need to grab and go: keys, wallet, jewelry, snacks
• family photos; placing them around your home adds a personal touch but also fosters a sense of belonging. This is what differentiates your home from those of  others.