Sunday, November 2, 2014

finally free

His fingertips understood her alphabet 
and he read the braille that was her skin 
no words were required 
only the healing that comes from a touch
 a touch that knows that it is also receiving
 as well as giving 
a touch that remembers 
the last time 
and anticipates the next 
his fingertips gently pressing 
along her cheekbone 
her tears washing over his fingernails 
his steady hand remained alongside her jaw
 and his other hand pressed gently 
      on her shoulder 
            reassuring her 
                that he was always there 
                         whether physically present 
                              or not 
he could feel the tension in her 
and he knew to wait 
    he knew to wait 
until the tension rolled 
up from her toes 
through her legs 
around her abdomen 
 into her chest and 
finally came out of her mouth 
in heaving racking sobs 
he had not caused the pain 
but with her in his hands 
he felt it 
he felt all of the pain 
that was coursing through her body 
he could not take it away 
nor did he try 
but 
he did the noble thing 
he shared it 
he neither diminished  
nor denied  
he merely stood 
holding her 
her shelter 
   in this particular storm 
he had promised to protect her 
and here he was 
fulfilling his promise 
finally she was able 
to let it all go 
finally she found a way 
to stop carrying it 
by herself 
finally 
she believed that he loved her 
as he had always promised 
and finally 
she was free to love him back 

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