Enough

talking,
the girl says,
looking at the
women.

It’s time for
us to do
the thing. We’ve
spent too
much time
hiding,
or rather you have.
I’ve been here
the whole time,
waiting for
you to
take my hand
and step
on out,
over the ledge.

You know
we have wings,
right?
You know we’ll
not fall to our
deaths… This time.

Her hand a baby
hamster in mine.
All soft and dainty,
moist
in its naivety.

Yet I know
that she IS right.
For as long
as we have
lived, she
has been right.
Yet looking
at her 6-year-old
frame I
don’t understand
how this is
possible,
or how she
always knows.

Yet she does.

The flailing around
ends now. The silly
adult excuses.
The supposed real
life delays. All pretense
falls away.

For there are bigger
fish to fry,
and joys to
release. And
other humans to
reach, nurture,
or simply delight.

She smiles as
I take a deep
breath.
You’re right Lu,
you’re always
right.

Our feet step
over the ledge.
The gunshot
of sails cracking
deafens.
Only it’s not sails,
it’s our wings
taking flight…

~Lu