Between Bruises & Blooms

Some days,
I can hear Theo laughing
before I ever see him.

It bounces through trees,
around corners,
across playgrounds,
through open windows.

It isn’t just laughter.

It’s proof
that happiness
can have a sound.

It’s the reminder
that life is still capable
of surprising us.

There are days
when I feel heavy enough
to sink into the earth.

Then he laughs.

And somehow,
for a little while,
I remember
how to float.