By CAROLINA CORDON

Hi there. I didn’t see you.

Now that we’re here together, let’s take a deep breath.
Close your eyes. And

Inhale. Feel your lungs expand. Your muscles grow. Energy bubbling inside you.

Swirling. Swirling.

Fingers go numb. Skin gets tight. Then

Exhale. Feel your breath warm the air around you. Vibrating the molecules from your warmth and positivity.

New energy is welcomed. Tension is released as your hair extends

Just for a moment,
I’m floating.
Eyes clouded in a sea of black.

That felt amazing, right?

And then

Is the bad stuff gone yet?
Have I gotten rid of the fear?
Will the thoughts stop swirling? Swirling?
Will my fingers stop scratching?

Release it all with the breath.
Inhale. Exhale.

Gone?

It’s okay.
It’s okay.

Remember. With every breath, there is a new beginning.

It’s okay.

This pain is only momentary.

Inhale. Exhale.
Gone.

Life is short. Don’t waste it focusing on the bad.

But don’t ignore it.
Let it go.

It is as easy as breathing.

Come on, girly-pop!

Is something wrong with me?

If I can control my breath,

(What good could that do?)

my knees won’t buckle
my hips won’t turn
my eyes won’t cloud.

This is your daily reminder. Repeat after me.
You are beautiful. You are smart. You are worthy of all love. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

I can’t release
Breath stuck
Throat

I am breathing.
I am standing.

Take the deepest breath you have taken all day. Right here with me.

Inhale. Exhale.

My pencil shakes
My rings curvemaking waves,
in the corner of my clouded eyes.

Stop it.
Let it go.

You are strong.
You can do anything you set your mind to. Pick a goal and you will achieve.

Cross that assignment off your to-do list.

(Now there is another
no, two
to replace the previous.)

If someone doesn’t treat you like a queen, dump their ass. You don’t need them.


Hold me.

Men are trash.
I got you.

You are loved.

Am I?

Girlypop! Let your fire rage on.

Fires are destructive


Carolina Cordon ’24 is a staff writer
ccordon24@amherst.edu
Hannah Zhang ’22 is a staff artist
hazhang22@amherst.edu

*The print copy of this submission includes art by Hannah Zhang ’22. View our PDF version to see print copy.