By Nathalie Alcime

When the warm breeze touches my dark skin,
I feel the embrace of home.

That feeling of safety and security that protects your soul from intruders
That kindness of a warm hug or the never-ending jokes.

It’s the reading of books to discovery or relief of a passed exam
It’s the shout of joy and the dance of victory

It’s the loved one holding your hands or laughter of a baby
It’s the favorite team or that comfort food.

It’s the house that’s clean or the car that drives for hours
It’s the feeling of “I did it” and the vision turned to life.

It’s the place where I can feel sad or hurt;
It’s the place where I can run to or hide.

It’s the ground in which I stand on or the direction I choose to go.
It’s the memories where I am reminded and the painful ones I look away from
It’s the photograph I choose to keep and the ones I let go.

Home is multifaceted and it becomes the eye of the beholder
Home makes us who we are and we become so much more

Not just a place, not just a person;
But home becomes the way of life.