100 Subscribers

A hundred hearts clicked,

not all at once, but still—

a slow bloom of strangers

who decided my words were worth it.

————

The stats bar climbed

like a toddler learning to walk,

stumbling, hesitating,

then suddenly sprinting past 99.

————

It’s not fame,

but I feel famous today.

(Am I signing autographs in my head?

Yes. Yes, I am.)

————

A hundred people,

not in a room, thank God,

but here, invisibly—

raising virtual glasses to my paragraphs.

————

Do they know how loud

I’m clapping for myself right now?

Do they hear the squeal

when I refresh my dashboard?

————

Thank you, subscribers,

for tolerating my metaphors,

for letting my essays live rent-free

in your tabs.

————

Here’s to 200—

because I’m never shutting up.