If tomorrow starts without me

If tomorrow starts without me

please know that i'm still here

admiring your strength

and cheering you on

as I always have

(a bit too loudly perhaps)

embarrassing you at every gymnastics meet

and volleyball game

and dance performance

and that time when you read your story to your class about horses

at the fifth grade writers festival

and you learned how loud my clap could be in a quiet room.

.

If tomorrow starts without me

please know that i'm still here

in the memories we've shared,

the long walks in the woods

talking about boys and school

and work and life

figuring out what steps to take

sometimes with the dogs and sometimes just us

finding our footing on uneven ground

wishing we, too, had four paws

and making our way

together.

.

If tomorrow starts without me

please know that I'm still here

in the way people say you look just like me

and we pretend it can't be

since you're adopted

but I know it's the expressions

and the way you hold your head

and the way you command a room

and they way we've taught one another

how to stand tall

and be brave

and be strong.

They can see that in us.

.

If tomorrow starts without me

please know that I'm still here

in the words "I love you"

that fall so easily from my mouth

and could just as well be your name

from the number of times you inspire me

to say them to you.

Remember the time you stopped me

and made me say them

before a road trip without you,

reminding me

that those were the last words you wanted to hear

in case I didn't come back.

.

submitted in response to:

https://vocal.media/writers/one-of-us-unofficial-poetry-challenge