In which someone listens
Being truly listened to is like standing on the edge of a sudden void, lit by thunderous sunlight and held in a silence so keen that moisture hesitates to evaporate.
I fall into that void, cold fingers fluttering behind me like wings.
And for the first time, I don’t curate my stories. I don’t shape tales to coax forth smiles, I don’t polish my thoughts to present their best side. And I don’t tuck the things that cut me out of sight.
I keep tumbling, tears creeping into the corners of my eyes to burn at skin.
And then there far below, I see light blossom in the darkness.
Strands dance on lightning feet, orbiting each other before flying outward in a new direction. They hum with pleasure at the feel of the listening: words suddenly caught by an ear and held in the brain with the touch of gentle but curious neurons.
Those strands weave as they go, forming a billowing net with edges that ever expand as words of understanding and tenderness wrap warm arms around my own.
The void becomes a safe place to fall, the silvered net a constant assurance.
All is let go.
Medically Unexplained 
Excellent! It is so good to have a reminder of bouncy, star-jumping Isla.
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Haha she’s still in here somewhere!
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What a piece of beautiful writing, very poetic too.
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Thanks mama!
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I hope constant praise isn’t something that makes you uncomfortable, because I keep feeling compelled to point out how much I love your work. While your voice is very much your own, your ability to blend poetry and prose reminds me of Peter S. Beagle.
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Happily constant praise is a delight to read – I’m so glad you connect with what I write (as I do with yours!). I’m also going to have to hunt out Peter S Beagle, I’ve not encountered any of his writing before and it sounds right up my street 🙂
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He wrote The Last Unicorn, among others. The Last Unicorn was the book that taught me prose could be poetry. If you’re not a fan of oddball fantasy it may not be your cup of tea, but it’s a beautiful, bittersweet book with a lot of heart.
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It sounds like just the sort of thing I’d like to read!
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