A MOTHER’S EYES

A tap on my shoulder

woke me up from my reverie.

By the exit,

his mother’s sorrowful eyes

confronted me.

A hesitant smile,

a brief hug,

it makes me wonder,

behind these gestures,

is there anger?

I...

I am...

I grasp for words to offer

to let her know,

how much I regret,

how I will never forget,

how desperately I want for time to reset,

how I wish I died instead,

how I love him so much,

how excruciatingly painful...

how much I am...

”I am sorry,”

I whispered.

With a gentle smile,

she reached for my hands,

and a gentle squeeze said it all.

No words needed,

her eyes reveal the truth.

No trace of anger,

eyes still loving but sadder,

just filled with worry,

not even a bit of fury.

”Are you okay Hanie?”

She asked me,

and just like that

I broke down.

The tears I tried to stop started falling,

the pain I tried to endure came crashing,

every reason to breathe was fading,

every bit of my world was crumbling.

She held me tight,

we were both crying.

When I looked at her,

her eyes mirrored

what I was feeling.