I was there
When she cried

I sat there
Just holding her

When she screamed
I froze

I didn't know how to handle her unravel
I didn't know how to sew her back together

For you see
My own thread was worn

My own stitches were coming apart
From years of too-tight hugs

My button eyes coming undone
From all the pain I've seen you go through

My ratty fur matted wet from tears
You dried on my corduroy skin

I still feel it
The bite marks on the back of my head
from where you clenched your jaw so hard around my nylon flesh

You screamed into my stuffed brain so loud
you reverberated my neurons of synthetic polyester cotton mix

The best thing about being your teddy bear
Was being there for you

Making you happy when you cried
Laugh when you were down

You thought I was a Russian bear warrior,
You named my Mishka
It was coolest thing ever
You thought I was invincible

Until you grew up.

You stopped having me around as often
You grew up as I wore down

Your problems where not tears I could wipe away
My stitched smile could not spread to your face anymore
My button eyes, the ones once so polished that they gleamed,
Now dull and scratched

You threw me when you were angry
Squeezed me when you sobbed
Locked me up in closets
Hid your childish joy from sight

I guess that's the thing about being your childhood best friend.
I only lasted in your childhood