I need someone to hold me and tell me everything is going to be okay

Like I used to do for her

I would hold her and rock her and whisper…. It’s all going to be okay

I need someone to hold my hand when crossing the street

We know how fast cars come around the corner

How they don’t see little people like us

I need someone to string the Christmas lights and turn on the Christmas music

We remember the magic of feeling safe with the sounds of adult laughter

We remember what sacred feels like

I need someone to tuck me in at night leaning over the fortress I’ve built

We use pillows now in the place of stuffed animals building the wall

We know how sleep does not come until the teddy bears and plush aardvark are properly placed in their strategic sniper positions

I need someone to notice my tears and wipe a few away

We know the wounds that were untended and how to cry silently

We feel these deep cuts still today and know how to act like they aren’t there

I need to push forward and bring her with me

We both know the heat of hell

We both know we can’t stay