Please, let me not be the reason you stumble.

Falling back to old habits long lost.

Letting that wave of destruction pour through.

Washing away those buildings that you made with such care.

Reversing all the progress in one swift move.

A kind of emptiness that cannot be expressed in words.

***

If you are to lose, at least let it be because of someone else.

Let me remain at your side.

There to help put you back together again.

Sharing in the victory found again.

Part of the inevitable celebration when it has been achieved.

A helper instead of a hinderer.

***

If I am the reason you are in pain, at least let it be anything but the worst scenario.

Not a permanent pain or change.

The white lie on the tip of the tongue.

Made with the best of intentions even without success.

A knife meant to mend in the long wrong.

Never made just to draw blood.

***

Anything but who I would hate to become.

For you are dear to me like a carefully preserved photo of my favorite memory.

Part of what makes me who I am.

A keepsake I fear ever damaging.

Kept far away from the flame of resentment.

Beauty I would never cut from myself.