today i realized that
we read books and
watch tv for an
escape

it made me sad to think
that our world is so
horrible that we
constantly need to
escape
from
it.

we were just children, innocent and free
passing the time underneath that tree
boundless giggles and secrets shared
trying anything that our small limbs dared

you were a bit odd, but so was I
with you I cold be anyone: a hero, a spy
but something in you was never secure
of our friendship you were no longer sure

slowly the tree began to sway
that tree under which we would play
the leaves began to fall one by one
as our bonds were carefully undone

I kept faith, but you never could
and so that tree became nothing but wood
but there I still stood, looking at a graveyard
thinking that I could still keep guard

then I realized the bitter truth:
we are no longer the people we were in our youth
so you can have your friends, and I'll keep mine
and our roots will not again intertwine

and maybe the tree will grow anew
for different children, whose friendship is true.

We grow up thinking that families
are permanent, and that our parents
will always catch us when we fall.
But what happens when they fall?
No one prepared me for that.

We grow up idolizing them, seeing
them as heroes who can do no
harm or injustice. But what happens
when they become the villain?
No one prepared me for that.

We grow up watching them put
on a strong front, never shedding a
tear for our sake. But what happens
when they come crying to us?
No one prepared me for that.

We grow up watching them forgive
us over and over, loving us unconditionally
all the while. But what happens
when we must absolve them?

No one prepared me for this.