Humming to myself, I brush my outstretched hand through the bushes

My fingers dance through the leaves

They chuckle, leaning into my touch

Droplets of water spring from them and scatter upon my sandals

I giggle, toes wet with dew and tingling from the cold

Light-headed, fuzzy, quivering

My body is a bridge, bending upwards

Their fingers caress my chin, following the contours of my face ever so slightly before grazing my neck and dragging their nails down my back

I shiver

I sigh

Heat spirals down my chest, flushes blossoming from my cheeks

My back stiffens, straighter, taller

Bones in my fingers crack as they roll into fists

The curve of my jaw hardens

I bite into my cheeks slowly, forcing the air from my nose

My hands stand at attention to my sides

Everything is still and quiet

But ready

She holds me

The blanket around us is so soft

My shaking slowly subsides, as my hand grips hers

The vine around my throat relaxes, slightly

Its spirals loosen

My forearms tingle

Her thumb skims them, reassuringly

I inhale

My breathing gallops, in time with the slapping of my hands against the waves

They push against me

I push back

Saltiness slides down my throat

I splutter

I feel. I become. I am –

                                Alive