For the second night in a row

I can’t sleep thinking about you.

This has happened before since

We’ve spoken, these butterflies keeping

Me up all night.

*

But the past two evenings

Are quite different

Causing nervousness in a different way

Tonight you told me your deepest darkest

Secret, family doesn’t know only

Former spouse, who became former because of it, this secret, this past.

*

This heartache you experienced this

Loss of innocence has changed you

I will never know the person you

May have been had this never

Happened to you, but I know you’re

A pretty great person now.

*

Insomnia comes with the weight

Of being told something of such

Gravity in confidence but it

Must not compare to the

struggles you have endured

As you walked your path

dealing with this.

*

I hardly know you – do you

have a middle name? Were

you named for a family

member? Do you have a

Favorite color? Yet, now

I know this about you.

*

My heart is heavy

My brain is spinning

My soul is sad for you

*

But because I am me

Because I have never experienced

Anything like this

Because no one else has ever told

Me anything of such gravity and I

Don’t know what’s possible

Or impossible

*

I have hope. I am full

Of optimism. I see happy days.

I see healthy days. You

already seem so well-adjusted

It’s just this one thing, one

Enormous thing.

*

I don’t know how to help

I can only listen, without judgement

And hope you know I am

Here for you, to help you

sleep if you need, to help you

Find words if they’re lost. To help

You quiet your mind. To help

You lighten your heart.

*

I am here. You are

Wonderful, amazing

Strong, caring, kind, loving.