'Hold my hand, oh hold it fast –
I am changing!' [Edwin Muir]
The tiny, pudgy hand grasps onto a single finger. Its smooth and unblemished skin bundles the object of so much happiness into an entity which is worshipped by the devoted parents. Round, glistening eyes gaze up at their makers. Fluffy hair hugs the round head. Cheeks puffed out, the child smiles as parents' coo.
Everything is looked upon with wonder. Hold her hand - hold it quickly! For not too far in the future, the length of the gaze decreases. Eyes witness less and less, until they witness nothing at all. For the world is contained within the bubble that is her life. It starts and ends with her personal affairs. All else is irrelevant.
Grab her hand. Join her for the ride. Once again, the eyes shift and blink. As they refocus, you can be part of her fast-paced life. You can slot in between early morning coffee and her first meeting for the day. You can be the phone call, the email, the sms that shows her care for you. You can support her as she climbs the corporate ladder and maybe, at the top, she will still have time for you.
Don't let go. Even though the skin ripples and wrinkles, you must hold on. She will need your stability as her life encounters turbulence. Yet nothing is permanent. Every part of her life falls under scrutiny. Even you.
Hang on. Hang on through the trembling and gummy smiles. Remind her of all she has on Earth. Whisper your love for her into her ear. Be her anchor to the world as her eyes become clouded. For without you, she will surely fade into
n o t h i n g n e s s
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