homeostasis (prose; 78w)

[deerruhan]

it is winter
it is frigid
you are trying to regain feeling in the back of a car
realizing the existence of
                fingers and toes
                the sleeves of a jacket that belongs to someone else.
the frost on the glass means you are still breathing
the shiver embedded in your bones means your body
                                has not given up
                                is fighting to keep you in stasis, alive.
it is sunrise
it is morning
                curl your fingers
                and clench tight.

[I've submitted this work for the 2015 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards!]