I look up from my phone, groggily.
Pinkish-orange hues flood through my window
Phone forgotten, I rush towards the colours
I soak in the trees gently swaying in the light breeze
I soak in the rush of people beneath me
I soak in the warmth of the parting sun
I soak in the tingles on my skin
I soak in.

I am back in my room when i was alone, afraid, and anxious
When I was upset, frustrated, and confused
When I only wanted darkness
I wished for the sun to not hit my face the next day
That was seven years ago.

I am jolted back to reality by my hair tickling my nose.
I picked up my phone to capture the moment.
For a brief moment, I saw my face staring back at me.
I noticed something that i hadn’t seen in a long time.
My eyes were sparkling.
My skin looked different and healthy.
I was content.

The poor camera was no match for the illuminated sky.
No number of filters could do justice to the beauty it radiated.
My hand lowered as realization hit me.
I realized that I had been seeing my life through a camera lens.
Dull. Bleak. Not good enough.
I stared at the sky again and noticed its stark contrast from the picture on my phone.
It told a different story. A happier one.

For the longest time, the camera lens was the only perspective I had chosen to record memories with. I had abandoned my other instruments. The ones that record a realistic, a more vibrant picture.

I keep my phone down.
I see the clouds pass by.
The gentle breeze now making my hair dance wildly.
With a smile playing on my lips, I let myself breathe.
Breathe.