Distinctions of Happiness
Fur on the side of my face; fingers clasped around a paw, knees curled to my chest, laying sideways on the floor.
Two mouse ears and a castle; the darkness a luminescent background to the splashes of color that light up the sky.
Ear resting against my mother's heart beat; her arms cradle me, safe, comfortable, content.
Legs, swaying below me, swings taking me higher
higher
far away from the ground.
A+'s on tests. Accomplishments. Achievement.
The sound of the ball as it hits the back of the net; like a strong wind, a rush of water, relief, excitement.
....
His hands; under my arms, my legs swinging through the air as loud gasping laughs escape from my mouth like I'm breaking the surface to come up for air.
My back pushed up against the car; his chest against mine, arms around his neck, dangling from the tree branch that is his looming torso.
Fog covered car windows; his single finger keeping me in park, the outline of a heart.
A basketball in my hands; a twinkle in his eyes, a smirk shared between us. Running towards the basket only to be scooped up in the basket that is his arms.
Looking down at a grass field and cleats; looking up at his face among the crowd of people.
Three sleepy words; choked out, breaking the silence, my favorite time, so raw and real.
....
A room with all my friends;
Raspy screams of lyrics from our mouthsBurnett's bottles on the window sill, mascaras lining the bathroom sink, loud music shaking the world around us.
Running as the day begins; soft air filling my lungs, morning chills rejuvenating my body.
My teammates' arms around me in a huddle; holding me together.
Sand running through my fingers; grains stuck under my nails, my salty hair drying underneath the beating sun.
The innocence of children; never fake and always honest, making me feel young again.
Driving in the car; music surrounding me, filling me up, letting it out.
Looking out the window as Charcoal Pit is captured in the rearview mirror; leaving it all behind, starting over again.
Running past the Washington Monument; looming, tall, intimidating, bigger than myself.
....
Happiness before, happiness during, happiness after.
Do all forms of happiness feel the same?
Each happiness is distinct, but only the latter lasts.
Two mouse ears and a castle; the darkness a luminescent background to the splashes of color that light up the sky.
Ear resting against my mother's heart beat; her arms cradle me, safe, comfortable, content.
Legs, swaying below me, swings taking me higher
higher
far away from the ground.
A+'s on tests. Accomplishments. Achievement.
The sound of the ball as it hits the back of the net; like a strong wind, a rush of water, relief, excitement.
....
His hands; under my arms, my legs swinging through the air as loud gasping laughs escape from my mouth like I'm breaking the surface to come up for air.
My back pushed up against the car; his chest against mine, arms around his neck, dangling from the tree branch that is his looming torso.
Fog covered car windows; his single finger keeping me in park, the outline of a heart.
A basketball in my hands; a twinkle in his eyes, a smirk shared between us. Running towards the basket only to be scooped up in the basket that is his arms.
Looking down at a grass field and cleats; looking up at his face among the crowd of people.
Three sleepy words; choked out, breaking the silence, my favorite time, so raw and real.
....
A room with all my friends;
Raspy screams of lyrics from our mouthsBurnett's bottles on the window sill, mascaras lining the bathroom sink, loud music shaking the world around us.
Running as the day begins; soft air filling my lungs, morning chills rejuvenating my body.
My teammates' arms around me in a huddle; holding me together.
Sand running through my fingers; grains stuck under my nails, my salty hair drying underneath the beating sun.
The innocence of children; never fake and always honest, making me feel young again.
Driving in the car; music surrounding me, filling me up, letting it out.
Looking out the window as Charcoal Pit is captured in the rearview mirror; leaving it all behind, starting over again.
Running past the Washington Monument; looming, tall, intimidating, bigger than myself.
....
Happiness before, happiness during, happiness after.
Do all forms of happiness feel the same?
Each happiness is distinct, but only the latter lasts.