The rhythm of —

by Kshatriya

AAAAAHHHHHHH!

with my whole chest. with all my breath. from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. with all the air in my lungs. with all my energy. with all my might.

AAAAAHHHHHHH!

from the fallen-beaten position. from the standing fists-clenched position. from the deepest well. from the tallest building.

AAAAAHHHHHHH!

with the loudest primal voice. with the softest breathless sigh.

AAAAAHHHHHHH!

in the brightest sunlight. in the deepest darkness. in the warmth of my soul. in the coldest part of my heart.

AAAAAHHHHHHH!

for the saddest little girl. for the pissed-off woman. for those who never get the chance to scream. for those who can’t stop screaming.

AAAAAHHHHHHH!

 is a soul-deep, full-body sound that brings peace and starts battles. is the soundtrack in my mind and the rhythm of my blood.

AAAAAHHHHHHH!

Deserves its space. Deserves its voice. Deserves to be heard.

Kshatriya Colet Millick is a labor advocate based in Sonoma County. With a background in counseling and labor relations, Kshatriya brings a perspective shaped by her tumultuous childhood, her work alongside people whose voices have been dismissed, and her commitment to fairness and justice.

Her writing explores living with emotions in a chaotic world, with an emphasis on self-reflection and living with darkness.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading dark morally grey books, hanging out with her furbabies, spending time with her nieces and nephews, and having deep conversations sprinkled with dark humor and laughter.