My knee says sit down.

My cough says shut up.

My heart says there is more grief in here, and more tenderness.

My vertebrae say sleep.

My gut says no thank you.

The base of my skull says Oh yes, that.

My right ear drum says the world is too loud.

My skin says dress me beautiful.

My eyes say don’t make me watch him throw her again.

My back reminds me how we’ve been thrown before, what it made of us. My back remembers being quiet, and pleased, and beautiful, and tired, and still.

My jaw says relax, it is enough.

My body speaks love so loud, and all of me listens.