The boy held on

The child takes his first steps

Desperately clinging to their mother’s seemingly giant hand

As if it was a life buoy keeping their head above the water  

“Mommy, I might fall!!!”

The love a mother carries in her heart

She looks down at her child

They’ll learn to walk eventually

Until then, I’ll hold their hand

The child is older

He no longer holds his mother's hand when crossing the street

Instead he holds a girls hand

The one with long brunette hair

Sitting diagonal from him in math class

He passed her a note that told her how he really felt

He holds her hand with sweaty palms as they walk to the movies

“I think I’m falling for you”

There’s no way we’ll last

Until then, I’ll hold her hand

And hope she loves me forever

The boy became a man faster than his parents could imagine

He loved her forever

She loved him forever

They lasted

Now their parents sit in the pews of the church and wait

The man’s future bride glides down the aisle

And when she arrives he takes her hands

Tears run down both of their faces

They say their “I do's”

Until death do us part

He’ll hold her hand

Three years later and their son was born

A miracle to the universe

Something new

An opportunity for greatness and beauty

As the boy grew his parents held him

Protecting him

When he turned 14 it was the boys turn to protect his parents

His father, the boy that grew into a man

Laid in a hospital bed

End-stage cancer

His son held his hand

And for the first time the boy saw his father cry

“Walk on for me”

His father’s hand went limp as his eyes shut

But the boy held on