You’d say, “I only need you, Sunshine.”
We talked and laughed into the wee hours of the night and early morning
Black Love, Black Babies, and Black Families weren’t just popular hashtags but a hopeful near future
Your words breathed life into my spirit, and I envisioned life in union with another
A stark contrast for a lone wolf
But as my emotions delved the ocean’s floor
No matter the impossibilities, I was determined to touch the oceanic crust for us
And yet, you became dubious and sought dry land
As if distance couldn’t be any greater
You scrambled aboard a highlighter yellow hot air balloon
You ignited a spark of interest where love once laid dormant
Romantic relationships had never been my forte
Like a rainy day without an umbrella, I repeatedly ran for cover
To go within and retreat
But you assured me that I was safe
And methodically chiseled away the vault securing my heartstrings
Whilst my salt-water tears blended with the marine
Comparable to the impact of a missile
I was thrust to shore by the strength and protection of Yemaya
Sprawled like a human starfish
My eyes being the only part of my body that seemed to work in continuous blinks and pro-longed squints
The heat from the sunlight was akin to my skin feeling like it could melt and be one with the sand,
Is this the meaning of “dying on the inside?”
Defiantly my inner voice whispered, “All is not lost; there’s sunshine ahead.”
