She didn’t want to be loved,
At least,
Not anymore.
So she refused to love.

Maybe not loving
Would turn him away,
At least,
She thought.

She screamed.
He cried.

He didn’t let go.

She yelled,
He whispered,
And all I want to know
Is what he said.

She never came
Downstairs, ever.
She would
Not even try

To fake a smile.
Everything was
Gone in her.

Others, it seemed,
Fled from disaster
Being their friendship
And left her defenseless

Against the vultures
In her mind.

She cried,
He whispered.
All I want to
Know is
What
He
Said,

As I decided
I wasn’t brave enough.

I fled.
I deserted.

“Should I have?”
Is not even a
Question,
And I feel
Half as broken
As she does

Because I
Failed her.

But I stayed
In touch with
Him, because
I really did care.

But I was scared.

Alarms blaring
Screaming for
The ambulance
Clumsy fingers
On 911
And a hospital
Run had me
On my knees
Begging for
Mercy

On her and
On me.

I was angry
And afraid
And confused
And tortured-

Was this
How she
Felt waking
Up every day?

I wish I
Was as
Strong
As
Him.

All I want
To know
Is what
He said,

Because she returned.

Rehab done in
Weeks and therapy
Passing by,

I watched on as
She repaired,
Rejuvenated,
Became a person
Again.

He smiled.

He stayed silent.

She was the hero
To pull back into
Her life, to make
All the
Changes.

At least, in his
Story.

And all it took-
Of all the deeds
Of heroism I
Thought was
required to help
My friend-

All the burdens
I thought I would
Have to bear in
Saving her life-

All he did
Was whisper,
“I love you
Anyway.”