I keep the internal inside because it feels so sacred, so intimate. I want to protect the words you whisper. I want to keep them written on my heart and let them warm me. I am not hiding…I am keeping. But I hear you say:
Let them see.
Bring the internal into the light so that they see my love, so that they see my grief, so that they see my anger…so that they see my moving toward justice. The grief you share is my grief. The anger you share is my anger. The love you share is my love. The care you share is my care. The breath you share is my breath. The longing you share is my longing.
Let them see me in you.
My words will continue to keep you safe. My spirit will continue to warm you. My love will continue as a sacred intimacy between us. I will continue to whisper to you as you sleep.
Do not be afraid.
I need them to know, to feel, to see what I look like. The shifts you are experiencing are a sweet conversation between us two, yes, but I need them to know my sweetness is around them whenever you are around them. I need them to know that I love them whenever you love them.
Let them see you my love. I made you for the light, so let them see.
Courtney M. McSwain, 2-16-25