Take It

I held out my hand, my palm open wide.

“Take it” I said.

The man before me looked at me quizzically.

“There’s nothing to take.” he said

I tried again a few days later, someone closer, someone who may understand.

I held out my hand, my palm open wide.

“Take it,” I said.

She laughed, “You’re funny, what do you want me to take? The air?”

I tried again and again.

Friend after friend.

I stopped telling and started pleading.

“Take it”

“Take it”

“...Please”

Nobody would.

I needed just one person to take it

One person to care

Just one.

I stood on the outer edge of the bridge

My back toward the rushing water down below.

I closed my eyes

Took a deep breath

And leaned back.

As my feet tipped backward, waiting for gravity to do its job

My hand instinctively reached out forward

And my lips uttered those fruitless words one last time

“Take it…”

I leaned my head back, my hand still outstretched

And to my complete surprise

Somebody did.

Moments before my feet would have left the edge

A hand took mine.

I opened my eyes, and there they stood

Someone who cared.

They pulled me close

And held me tightly.

They didn’t say a single word

They didn’t need to.

They cared enough to take my hand

They showed me I wasn't alone

And that gave me the strength to try and live another day.