Bright eyes.
They shine through dark hair
colored black with pain
and teenage angst.
While loving, hopeful, brown roots
shine at the top of his head.

Jesus watches me
from a chain around the boy’s neck.
He holds the cross in clenched fists.
Faith.
It clashes a dark exterior.

Carefully opening
his scarred hands,
he reveals his faith to me.
He says he was saved.
and tells me
“Life is beautiful.”

I open mine
Revealing nothing
Just emptiness.
I respond
“beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

The boy smiles
A beautiful smile.
And promises to save me,
filling my hands with hope.