She Was Brave; I Survived

She ensured we never saw the pain and fear we always had in our hearts.  

She could not bear to see it in my eyes as it would destroy her.

She knew also that I would never look away. 

She knew it was not in me to turn away from her unless she asked me to. 

She knew I would break just as she would if we ever allowed each other 

to see the emotions fully in the eyes as it would mirror our own. 

That look of a lovers eyes when emotions of sorrow and grief found their way 

from the pits of their stomach to view outside the windows of their soul. 

We never wanted to see that look.

We knew it had to work this way. 

That was her strength: to be brave and to walk away. 

That was my strength: to survive watching her leave.