Still Standing

By Charisse Smith

--

I have walked through storms

most people only read about.

Foster care.

Separation.

Cancer.

Silence.

Each one tried

to bend my spirit.

But something stronger

lived inside me.

Faith.

Not the kind

spoken comfortably

in bright rooms.

The kind born

on bathroom floors

between tears and prayers.

Every storm said

“this will break you.”

And every time

I stood back up.

Still breathing.

Still believing.

Still standing.