Love for Mountains

One fine day,

she stands by the sea,

letting the breeze pass through her

like an old memory.

Suddenly, a voice.

Soft, persistent.

Whispering things

she thought she had already survived.

She listens

and wonders

why it hasn’t stopped,

even now,

after all these years.

She gathers herself,

smiles,

closes her eyes.

Breathes in the salt air,

tries to quiet it.

But the voice doesn’t want the sea.

“No,” it says,

“I need the mountains.”

Only then does she understand

it was never anxiety

haunting her.

It was her inner child,

still calling,

still waiting

for higher ground.