She Sat Beside Me

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i didn’t cry
seeing six drones
followed by a missile
outside my window.

i didn’t cry
when interception debris
fell on the roof
and shook our house.

and still
i was screamed at;
“why are you crying?”

“i didn’t cry..”
“i didn’t cry..”
“i didn’t cry..”

i sat on the floor,
frozen,
holding my cat
close to my chest,

dissociating
my way
out of this reality.

and then she came
and sat beside me,

that little girl
who first heard those words
many moons ago,

and since then
never shed a single tear
in front of anyone.

she saw adult me,
just as helpless
as she once was.

and she smiled,
soothing me
when i should have been
the one comforting her.