Breathe in

the faint aroma of a light rain shower

and musk from the trees that have had snow resting on their branches for

too long

and the car air freshener that leaves lilacs 

lingering in the air

 

Breathe in

the contagious laughs of your friends that 

echo

in the back of your mind

and the booming music coming from the car speakers

and the absurdly enjoyable smell of gasoline

 

Breathe in

the skipping down the parking lot after

seven hours

of being inside,

and then being greeted by 

irrefutable light and warmth

 

Breathe in

the moment

of peace

of joy

of being

for the first time

in forever.

 

And don’t breathe out.

 

Don’t breathe out,

for the aroma of rain 

and the musky trees

and the car air freshener

will dissolve right in front of you

 

and the echoing laughs 

and the reverberating music 

and the gasoline

will slip into oblivion before you can say

farewell  

 

and the moment 

of peace

of joy

of being

will feel like it had never

existed. 

 

Don’t breathe out,

because this moment will leave

as quick as it came,

 

and who knows the next time you’ll

feel this again.