once my body held its breath

there was an emptiness that pressed in from every side
a distance a loneliness something unfinished

but now it opens inhaling breaths of joy
and light touches places that had only known hiding

my body has scars now
finally able to tell the truth

there is no single way to arrive here
no single shape of freedom
when the light finally names it — my body

when your body begins to feel like yours
and no longer asks permission to be

Author’s Note: This poem is a small celebration for gender affirming medical care and moments of gender affirmation, whether or not they include surgery. This is a celebration of breath returning, of light finding its way in, of a body, at last, belonging to itself. This poem is being posted on April 11, 2026, marking two years since Josh (he/him), a transgender man, had top surgery.