... What can I do with these raspberries? Stain my lips, my cheeks, to bloom again in the mirror’s eye, to paint life back onto my frail face? Yes. Yes. Please. They were made in this fall of new beginnings, for me. My eyes were closed, hands trembling, yet I held the fruit’s red promise— a quiet shield against the past. It was made to bring me back, to kiss my own reflection and tell it I’m still here, clean, sober, and ready to fight again. No grand gesture, just color, and the will to keep saying no, as I bathe in crimson, reclaiming the warmth of life. ... Virginia Guarddon, known as Wildwood Writer, was born in the Canary Islands, Spain, but spent most of her life in the United States. Most recently, she lived in Colorado, where she built a life with her husband and family. Writing has been a lifelong passion for Virginia, beginning when she was just six years old. Instead of keeping a diary, she filled her days with poetry, which quickly became her creative outlet. After a s...