“Walking Beyond the Reach of Dawn”

First steps – pure delight, second steps – echoing laughter, third steps – drifting away

Away from my reach. In those early days, each step was a festival, beaming faces,

Snapshots etched into forever. But steps grew heavy, and you wandered

Into shadows I can’t pierce, a realm deep inside that shattered your spirit, a descent

Into darkness, into void? A place my love cannot mend, you paused, I stepped back.

How do I guide you closer, back into light, into hope, into faith in your own soul?

How do I release this aching grip – the urging, pleading, weeping, breaking, yearning,

Calling out, writing, waiting, hurting, cursing, endless circling thoughts, silent watching?

First steps can be born again. You see, you needn’t stand flawless or lost or

Bury yourself away from me or your truth; we can relearn these first steps, hand in hand.

I cannot lift your weight alone, it’s too fierce, love, but I can keep sitting here

Beside you in dusk and dawn, carrying hope, holding belief when you

Fear that one more sunrise is too much to endure. I will never cease walking

Close, attuned to the flicker of your former gleam, the one that sparkled

When your strides burst with light, laughter, and fearless smiles. These stairs

You climb now will bruise, splinter, defy you, summon rage, bitterness, turmoil,

Salted tears, and an anxiety gnawing you like a jagged nail you keep biting down

Because there’s no other balm. It is toil. These steps, this journey.

But walk them, you must. I can’t forge your way, only stand with you. Exhaling.

Omens, whispers, cries, prayers, moon ebbing, glowing, sun blazing, but still

You remain curled beneath sheets as time drifts beyond your touch; rise, please,

As I rise for you each dawn, each moment you gift me the grace

To meet you on this pilgrimage. Just one step, I beg of you, toward love.