I didn’t know I had lost hope until she showed it to me.

She insisted her hope,

forced me to at least consider its possibility.

I had to cry out my doubt, cry a lot,

to make room for it.

It was awkward at first,

living with a stranger

but eventually the hope set it,

became part of me,

and quietly did the work of changing

my heart, my mind, my actions

one day at a time.

Now my hope is so big,

it stretches all the way into my future

It colors in what used to only be

a wonder, a wish, a bare wall.

It spreads itself over my upcoming memories

so I recognize it when I get there.

And that is how my hope comes true.