I wanted to confide in you yesterday,
Tell you why I'm so pale, and shaky,
Ask you if you've ever been here,
In this hellish place.

I wanted you to tell me
Yes, yes, you're human,
Not a monster
Just a fragile being,
Let you pull my head onto your lap
And stroke my hair.

But close though we are,
You will never be able to tell me your secrets,
Though I know you have them.
You cared for me in the way you always have,
And always will,
The only way you can,
A bowl of chicken stew, and a hot water bottle.
This is how you love me,
And it does help,
But I wish we could talk about how it has been for you,
And is right now, for me,
I wish we could share how we have failed,
And learned from our mistakes.

Mum...do you know why I'm so pale, and shaky?
Are you wishing you could talk to me, too?
It's okay, Mum, I love your chicken stew.