You Didn’t Take Me
Muzzle flash
barrel of a gun
flooded with dread
completely flushed
life drained from me
Paralyzed
not a breath
not a beat of the heart
not a thought
lightning fast
yet the weight was heavy
eternity passed
in what could have been only an instant
more moments in time passed
but the flash of light never came
Driving off
you stole from me
too innocent for that world
but now I was in it
I must have looked brave
to an eye unknown
Never again
did that weight feel quite as heavy.
I wonder what courage is.
I wanted to collapse
no one there to catch me
but my own legs
still holding me tall
I never told anyone.
There wasn't anyone to ask.
Why was I there?
Why were you?
Did that decision save my life?
Did it save yours?
This feeling would come again
each time facing
what stole my breath away
You won't darken my soul
you won't take me away
I will die how I lived
I will be me
This is courage
to still face the day
to not let you destroy
the beautiful parts of me
Just a child
but more of a man
than you'll ever be
I have courage
because I choose to be free
Your guns
will never destroy me
-Unknown
