Breathe in.

The first real breath in what seems like forever.

Not just a frantic sip of air that will soon be given away.

Away to that brass extension of myself. 

A deep breathe that fills the lungs with cool air. 

A breath that I can keep.

Breathe out

A relaxed exhale.

See the breath form in the night time chill.

The stadium lights still shine brightly

yet give off no warmth, simply add to the effect of the exhale

Head clears.

this new air allows something other than exhaustion to register. 

Exhaustion from giving my air to the brass,

from keeping muscles tense and in control

for eleven minutes

for over a mile.

Over a mile of being not myself, not a trombone,

but one of the whole.

One out of 105. 

A mile of giving my body and soul to the band. 

to the forms. 160+ dots I had to hit. Done.

Relief.

I have done well. The cheers finally hit my ears.

Breathe in, breathe out. 

It's done. We conquered every yard of that field

We now depart, to the clicks on the snare.

but I cannot truly relax, until the judges are far behind