I Promise, Here's My Promise

There are a million words
she'd throw up into the air,
asking for somebody to catch her
before she fell.

She's so weak,
she's so scared.

I can see her
tripping
and
stumbling
over their voices,

those sharp loud noises

ripping through the atmosphere
and her heart
and her skin
until all she's got left

...is her tears.

It's dangerous
to walk
on ice
barefoot,

I'd tell her,

it's dangerous.

[Especially when
it's too thin
to support you].

Your
mom and dad
are spread too thin,  
they're gonna break

and you're gonna drown.

A beautiful girl
marred by a few bruises
and a thousand cares,
with just a few minutes to spare,
just a few letters thrown
through the air
to me.

I can't live like this forever.
I know

I promise.
you won't have to.