My Head's Above Water

Thirteen

You were unexpected, swooping in when my world had disintegrated

You scared me, the way you crashed into me and somehow turned a thrashing sea into a soothing river

You held my hand, bruised and bleeding knuckles a stark difference against the pale scared ones

You pulled me through the glassy surface of my mind, breaking the tension

You scooped up my inner child and kissed their tears away

You dragged handfuls of pillows behind you, cushioning a room that was once concrete

You softened the beast hiding within the ruins of my soul

You showed me that even I am deserving of love and kindness, even when the damage feelings like too much to bear

You scared me, you know?

You were the unexpected that turned stiff steel into delicate velvet

You, with your green eyes that flash with tales of unforgiving tides

You, with your sweet words, reassuring me that everything will be okay

You were the unexpected cloud that floated into my life, took my hand, and taught me to be just as light

You, with your soft smile that could convince even the worst of the worst to his knees, that holds back the loudest, ungodly monsters

If I look deeper, I see, we're not so different, you and I

We fought back the same waves

We drowned in the same vicious waters

We held the same demons within

We walked the same jagged path to find our place

We floated through the same whistling air

We battled the same beasts

Maybe now, I'll be brave enough to admit that you are a part of me