Day 1 - Phase 2

A day of solitude and tears, I am healthy and strong, doctors and nurses feel my pulse and explore my body looking for something wrong. Two doses of chemo saturate my body, I eat, drink, stretch, distract myself, consider brushing my teeth... I am doing time. Parole on Saturday? I am healthy and strong, my color is good. Why am I not riding my bike? Why am I not teaching a class or cooking my own meal? How is it I have come here? How is it my blood and marrow harbor a life-threatening crisis while I balance on my arms and salute the sun? I am surrounded by love, kind faces with deep eyes, I feel the energy of a tribe. And I am alone, ever learning, looking into my own eyes for motivation. The sun rises and sets, and emotions follow it's trail across the sky. From the commotion of all that surrounds me, I come back to my breath and it is calm. At least for a while, until I again find the need to return. How much time has passed in the practice? How much time?