Late nights
quiet stitches
staying up
just to hear
you still breathing

it's a quiet fear
the one I have
that maybe on day
I'll lose you
so I stay up

Each time
it gets too quiet
I have to pause
and listen
just to be sure

I know I need sleep
but how can I
close my eyes
when I don't know
if you'd still be there

I'll sleep soon
just a few more minutes
a few more stitches
another page
one more song

Just about anything
that will keep me up
maybe a cup of coffee
or tea
or my computer

Trying not to drift off
just so I can still
hear your quiet breath
just to know
you're still here

I know that
maybe it's a
little foolish
to hurt so much
when I don't know

But how can I risk
losing you
as well
when we've already
paid so much?

It's already
so alone
so cold
just thinking
you're not here

what would I do
if you ever
really left
taken away
gone for good

I don't think
I could stand it
they've slept
so long
will they ever wake up?

It's so tempting
to reach over
check your pulse
but I'll wait
and let you sleep

Just one more chapter
one more hour
one more song
a few more rows
just a bit longer

Because maybe
maybe if I just
stay up long enough
you'll be safe
and I'll still have you

I know
I can't stop it all
but I want to
and maybe if I
stay up...

So, sleep
please
for me
so I can hear
you still breathing

I'll be here
ready to help
if it ever stops
but for now
just another stich