Lines
2 MINS to read
The lines
that are starting
to appear
on my
face
don’t bother me
as much as
I thought
they would
I guess
lines
could indicate
that I’m tired
(I am)
or that
I’ve weathered impossible things (I have)
But lines
also indicate
aging
and
every
year
I get
is more
than I thought
I would
more than
I thought
I could
So
I celebrate
laugh lines
and
crow’s feet
I welcome
these lines
and the
years
that put them
there
And I celebrate
the wrinkles
and gray hair peeking through Because
these things
(that no one wants) these things
let me believe
that
I
get to
grow old
too
Amy Austin • Academic librarian. Diagnosed at 34. IDC, Stage IV de novo, ER+, HER2+. Amy was initially misdiagnosed with a complex benign cyst. She is the third in a direct family line to be diagnosed with breast cancer without a known genetic link.
She loves cooking and baking (especially bread), knitting, and curling up with a good book and a mug of tea. She has a knack for finding lucky pennies. Amy lives with her husband and son in Florida. • @amy_r_austin
This piece has been republished with permission from WILDFIRE Magazine, the “MBC: Legacy Stories” issue, published originally October 8, 2022. More information available at wildfirecommunity.org
WILDFIRE Magazine is the only magazine for young women survivors and fighters of breast cancer under 45 years old. Headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, WILDFIRE is a beautiful, story-based bi-monthly magazine published on different themes relevant to young women survivors, from stage 0 to stage IV. Beautiful and ad-free! Visit wildfirecommunity.org for more info.