I dreamed last night

late in the stillness before early morning.

I was in my usual chronic pain

that sucked the pain through every bone

in my spine,

down into the core of my being.

There was a doctor at my feet

telling me the words

“breathe”.

So I did.

I breathed deeply,

feeling more ease.

He told me my pain

was from my giving birth

to my baby.

I was pleasantly surprised,

happy that I was pregnant.

I remembered

I was deep in menopause.

He smiled,

saying it was a gift.

Giving birth

to a new beginning.

It seems so,

my dream companion said

to me.