Hearing crying in the night....

"Hush now it will be okay,
go on back to sleep now,
I will leave the hall light on
and the door cracked."

Rocking and soothing until the tears are gone...

Laughing and playing....

"Put these pillows here,
pull the blanket over there,
hang on it's falling in the middle,
let's put the chair right there."

Building a tent city, covering the whole bedroom...

They grow up so fast...

"Homework's done, right?
Well let's get it done then,
dinner is almost ready now,
go wash up."
    
I grow along with them...

So trying at times...

"Hey now you two,
time for bed, come on now, don't fight,
I know it's not fair,
there's nothing I can do."

I can't handle this... I'm too young...

They are taller than me now...

"Why can't you take
care of them for a bit?
I would like to go out too,
just every once in a while.... Please."

Pressures are building...

Why must it be this way....

"I know you make the money,
I know I am the one who is here,
but they fight me every step of the way
it is not my place, it is yours."

I have to get out...

The guilt... oh the guilt... it is unbearable...

"I'm sorry to have to go like this...
I am not abandoning you,
I will be in touch, you will be okay,
don't worry, I love you both."

I need to go now....

Leaving it all behind... to start fresh...

"Come on now, please help me load the boxes
I need your strength, please be strong
I know it's not fair, I'm sorry, I have to for me,
Please understand, we will be together again."

They are in the rearview mirror... fading quickly...

Graduation... it's already here

"I knew you could do it,
I'm so proud of you,
I know how hard it was,
but you are here now."

Finally, together again...

and then to hear the sweetest words...

"I'm sorry I didn't know before, but I do now,
I know it was hard, thank you so much,
you did all you could and more,
I love you sis."

What would you do?

I cried.

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