I saw my sister fight tears today;
she was always the strong one.
She opened her arms to me
and begged for some comfort.
Her beautiful eyes, stained red
with memories of laughter;
black mascara running down her face,
tainting the smile I know.
That blank, numb stare –
she doesn’t want to believe.
Overcome by anger,
that deep down, she knows isn’t
real.
I want to hold her.
She always held me,
and it’s my turn now.
No one told me how scary it was,
what if I say the wrong thing?
I see the tears working up,
I hear her swallow them back down
for the fifth time.
Why is she trying to be strong?
I want her to be able to let go
for once.
I saw my sister hold back tears today…
so I cried for her.