The Sunset Was Extra Special Today

There is something so beautiful about independence

The feel of freedom

Of trust

Of letting go of fear and hesitation

Of humiliation.

Today I joked with the cashier

Paid the rent

Planned for a concert with an aunt

Got gas

The basics, but still.

There is something healing in doing so when you usually feel so out of place

When language gets twisted on your tongue

And foreign conjugations travel elsewhere.

But today, yesterday, tomorrow

I carry myself by my own bootstraps

Sing along to the local radio, and karaoke with my abuelito who still can’t get over the fact that I know all the words

(Even if I don’t understand them)

Because damn, if there was one person I could always depend on

It’s myself.

At the end of the day, I’m always there

And I chose that.

Years ago, I chose that.

This life. A good life.

Me.

I chose me.

And here I am, living.