breathe

i woke up breathless,
my very own sustenance
plucked out of me.

a heavy boulder set on my chest-
could not breathe,
could not cry out.

immobile,
droplets oozing from every pore,
a desert lay exploring within me.

then a sweet and tender voice
filtered into my ears,
singing on languid notes:
“i will guide you
thru these troubles.

take my hand,” she said.

as i did, i emerged from a dream
and into another.

i could breathe,
and everything took on a different meaning-
life restored,
music came back to my ears,
laughter i could hear again.