Letting her go
She sits hands clasped around her knees leaning against the giant cedar her bones outlining her dress framing fragility. My heart wrangles with worry I ready to run to her Do not rescue her he says. But look how weak! She will fall! She will not fall he says. I watch biting my nails stricken stomach as she stands. She walks swishing skirt staging the stark limp she stumbles I leap up again his hand suddenly on my shoulder No. But she needs help! She cannot on her own! She can he says. And so I wait tears telling the story of my soul. As she trips and falls I gasp but she pulls herself upright continues faltering towards the tree grove on the far side of the field Cherry, I think their blossoms brilliant basking in the sun's wooing. She's too young I said. But he did not answer She turned her head and laughed her face a jeweled flash in the light before she disappeared into the trees.