Stephanie Gallanosa

I could fill an industrial-sized dumpster
with all pregnancy tests I have taken
a dumpster full of heartbreaks
of gut punches
of reminders
that my body cannot create this miracle
a dumpster full of negative signs
frowny faces
single lines
telling me that I am broken
that we are enemies
this body and me
we are at odds
at war

I long to go back
to that version of me
negative pregnancy test in hand
to pick her up off the floor
embrace her with compassion
and tell her that she is not broken
that it is not her fault
and that she is a miracle
all on her own