Stepping into a role

Why did I hug you so tightly?

You

Someone who I haven’t interacted with

Regularly

Someone who I hardly know

When you heard the news

You grabbed whatever you could find

And came to me

Without warning

And provided a gift

Why did I weep uncontrollably?

Why did I want to stay in your arms?

Why did I hang on for every second that I could?

Expanding each moment

Holding tightly

Not wanting to let go

But letting go once

I felt you pull away

A mother who saw

And provided meals

For us

Thank you

For stepping into

A role

You didn’t know was empty