trying to move forward

today i tied my hair up in braids upon my head,

donned the sweater that has survived many a war and traveled across many a family,

purchased a dress fit for a wide open space, cotton and suited for brushing the dust off its flowery skirt—

i bought gingerbread and apple cider and tried not to think about things that terrify me, instead stared at the house i’ll live in next year and stirred a hot drink rather than stirring my thoughts.

but it’s so hard, baby.

i can braid my hair tightly but it doesn’t make my thoughts any less unraveling at times