Hope Returns

She was lost,
wandering for so long in a desert of denied self.
Prickly cactus thorns bloodied her soft feet
as she moved across the wild terrain.
Her only thought was to get far enough away
so that the pain would be only a faint blur on the horizon.
She would make up in her head
that the speck miles behind
could easily become a forgotten memory.
Her faithless logic convinced her that it was the only way -
straight ahead,
no turning,
no stopping,
no circling.
The destination remained just as far -
even after the thousand wounded steps.
Comfortable illusions cracked open in the light of day
showing her the truth of false convictions
even as they pleaded with her to lose herself in the mirage.
Coins tossed in the well of longing
reminded her of long lost wishes of connection, belonging and purpose.
The ripple moved outward
as the sun rose again in her lifeless spirit.
Palms lifted,
focus set,
will engaged,
soft gaze,
heart open,
feet connected.
The small speck now becomes her truth.
Hope can only return once the tightly held silver discs can be released.
It's not courage nor faith that travel next to hope - they quickly fall to the ground in exhaustion.
It's the surrendered heart that holds her hand on the journey back.