real moments of paradise

stirring awake at 5am and the world is
peacefully soft
periwinkle skies and glowing moonshine casting
shadows on the empty
side of the bed so i feel
less
alone

tiny footsteps
tiny hands flying in the air
tiny teeth exposed, two missing
tiny lips pulled back into a grin
letting out the biggest, most
beautiful
kind of laughter

seafoam fizzling like champagne
ebb and flow ebb and flow
we are drunk on liquid courage and
overflowing secrets
spilling out
cold bodies pressed against each other
the heart is warm

–By Jean L., 19, Singapore