Piece

Story

Posted on by Lauren

It’s been five months since I started meeting my students for 15-30 min daily. 

Piece-by-piece I unravel their stories. 

Sleeping in cars, hotels or disappearing one day. 

Sometimes for a month, sometimes for . . . .

That is their life. 

Unknown. 

And I meet them where they are. 

Together, we read. 

Piece-by-piece. 

At first a sound, then a syllable and next, a word. 

Piece-by-piece we make sentences. 

“We spend just xx minutes together. The rest is up to you. Do you want to read? People like me will come and go, but you’ll always have you.”

I look them in the face and remind them that ultimately, 

It’s their story. 

I’m just a chapter. 

Peace

Posted on by Lauren

At first, a thread. 

Then, the seam. 

Piece by piece, 

My unraveling.

Not the sort you might think:

My pretty dress, favorite shirt. 

Instead, my knots. 

My tension, stress, anxiety.  

Bit-by-bit, 

Loosening.  

Letting go. 

They are all off to school.  

I said no to volunteering. 

And here I am. 

Unraveling the last dozen years. 

There was a moment when I considered adding to the size of this knot.

More money, more things, more praise.

Instead, 

Less. 

Unraveling.

Piece to Peace.

Camille Vaughan Photography