The Truth of It

Nothing was as renewing
as that little stream in the back
of the woods. I spent hours
there, dipping my fingers in it,
breathing in the most recent air,
sucking it into my lungs and exhaling
luxuriously. On this day, I wanted
to remain for all of my time,
but I did not. It was not that I could
not, but that the weather scared me.
Clouds threatened overhead and the wind
began to stir and whip, and I felt
I had no choice.

But the truth of it is,
I did.