“Careful,” you said.

“Don’t get too close to the edge,

Or you’ll FALL.”

And you gripped me tight

Around the waist

To keep me from doing just that,

Softly, you kissed me

By the giant Christmas Tree

In Times Square, which was glowing.

And I felt the same way

From the inside out, I 

Tightly, you held my hand

And swore you’d keep me safe

Walking briskly through a bad neighborhood.

I didn’t even notice

The catcalls or stares,

With you, I felt

“I promise,” you said.

“I’ll love you forever,

As long as I live.”

And I knew

If you broke that promise

I would break, too.

So I