the reversal was shocking
what had started out

(no that's not right
it started long before that
the history in fact went all the way back

to the beginning)

as an explanation
(an expression)
of

(and here is the heart of it)

a simple fear
simply
got the best of him

the reason he had not said it
(and to be truthful
he didn't know this ahead of time)
was
that, finally
made it real

(Once you say it
it cannot be taken back)

And....
it was if the floor fell away

If she hadn't been there
begs the question of what
would have been the bottom

But she was...