And so there was

a new story

born out of my

determination

not to reject

any piece of Self

or deny the transformation

to continue

and my dedication

to my own

quiet prayer.

It was not a choice

between two stories,

but an honoring

of both —

a delicate move

toward inclusion

I had practiced

before.

The tricky part

was standing my ground

and allowing

what was already

to come together

in my heart

and all of its

reflections.