It'll be fine,
she thought when
she saw the first crack.
It'll be fine.
It'll be okay,
she whispered when
the crack splintered
and cut across the walls.
Everything is good,
she said as she watched
the cracks sink deeper
as the walls caved in.
I'm not falling,
she told herself
as the walls began
to crumble around her.
She was left
in the rubble
that once protected
her heart.
He was waiting
behind the debris,
waiting for her
to step out into the light.
She let him in,
slowly and carefully.
She didn't want to
get her heart hurt again.
He showed her how
things were meant to be.
How they could get
through anything.
She made it through
the days when he was gone.
He came back early with
surprises and laughter.
They were happy.
They made it through the
white wedding, the thunderstorms,
and the sunny days.
They played with the
children and watched them grow.
They babysat the grandchildren
that they hardly got to know.
They're with each other still.
Side by side and always together.
Six feet under and buried
under the roses.