Natural Flow

They tell me the electrodes would function better were I to shave my head, yet I won’t return to the buzz cut of my youth; I now wear the waves passed down from my grandparents, a quiet homage. I’ve yearned lately not for escape, but for balance—reprieve from relentless study in favor of creation, connection, and the quieter rhythm of life. In witnessing the recent graduation of my peers, I felt the pulse of unity again—men and women bound by duty, forging a shared path through hardship and resilience. Together, we step forward into the future—our light persistent through depths, storms, and skies unknown. As we drift into that ever-reaching high frontier—not final, but infinite—I remain a steward of our shared oath. Meanwhile, I monitor my health not just in cost but in consequence. My sleep is fractured, but meaningful, each hour a patchwork of memories and markers—unshakable, sharp, sometimes painful. These memories anchor me, stubborn as kidney stones, yet I endure. With the guidance of remarkable physicians, students even, I navigate a body pulsing with adrenaline, focus, and persistence. I will never be wholly free from affliction, but I am understood, steadied, and in that, I offer peace. I remain your Guardian—by name, a gift—and by will, one still given.