Waiting…. With you, and for You…..


We sit by the church steps
My head on your shoulder
My hand folded,
My fingers safely clasped,
In yours

We watch people’s feet shuffle down the street
We hear the endless honking
And screeching
Of the many cars that pass us by
The rear lights
The stoplights
Constantly flash before our eyes

You suddenly squeeze my hand,
As you gaze into the chaos of the streets
And quickly,
Five painful words escape your lips...

“Why can’t we be together?”,
You whisper

I heard only frustration
As you faintly spoke those words
I could sense your pain,
Your fear,
Your desire,
How they burn intensely within your heart

“Why can’t we already be together, my love?”, you ask again
Those words
They pierce my soul
I knew the familiar ache…. We both did

If only you know how many times I’ve asked myself
That same question

How I long
How I ache
Just to see you
Hold you, be with you,
Feel your embrace
Every
Single
Day

My thoughts...they float…. To the day
That unforgettable day…..
When you gave me the promise ring

It was a promise,
Our Promise,
Of someday, somehow,
Who knows when, who knows how, but someday
It was Our Promise….
Of forever

But oh,
How long,
How toiling the wait
So long,
So difficult
It sometimes makes me question
If the right time
Will even
Ever come….

But, I’m hanging on to Our Promise
No matter how far apart we are,
I’ll be waiting….
With you,
And for you….

Those thoughts, that reminder, Our Promise….
Make me smile

I turn to face you,
Wrap my arms around you,
And amid tears swelling in my eyes,
Whisper back to you,

“Just hold on a bit longer….
Just wait a bit longer, my love
I’ll be here,
Also waiting…
With you,
And for you…”



Sophia Kliatchko
1/30/2020