She kept pushing, trying

To break down the gates

That kept her from him

He kept fixing, repairing

The gates to keep her away

To keep her safe

She broke them down, those gates

She kept pushing, trying

Now he’s there before her.

The words on the tip of his tongue

And so, there they were

He said, “If you want to know: Ask.”

The words spilled from her mouth

Faster than water from a broken dam

She said, “Tell me who tore your heart

To pieces. Tell me how you tried to put it

Back together. Tell me how the pieces

No longer fit together and

You became this.”

Silent tears swept down his face.

She almost took back her words.

He spoke.

“I watched the woman I loved

Fall to pieces.

I was powerless to stop her.

I tried everything but

The tighter I held on

The more she slipped away.”

The girl was saddened by his tale.

She held him as he fell to pieces himself.

Tears rolled down his face and hers

Until they made a river

Flowing through the gates

She kept pushing.