Yesterday
I heard teachers whispering to their hidden students
I couldn’t comprehend them
I heard the explosions from blocks away
I didn’t understand
I heard the pastor come and take me
I never knew why
I heard him come to stay with me
I did know why
He was my protector

I saw the ruin
I saw the disaster
I saw my own life spiral out of control

Today
The heavy rain could have blocked anyone’s wandering eyes from the road
But we didn’t dare to go there
The crashing rattle of the train cars could have muffled our voices
But we would never use any
The obvious safety of the church shielded from suspecting thoughts
But we didn’t feed curiosity
The elderly pastor’s words could ease us into feeling safe
But we never were
His wholesome, steady hand grabbed mine when I knew I would crash to the ground
But I never would fall
He is my protector

I saw the aftermath of death
I saw my sorrow reflected in others
I saw the way that we saved each other’s lives

Tomorrow
We have to leave this place
And throw away the life we once knew
We can be brand new people
And maybe change our old ways
We may find someone to pity our destroyed lives
And let them shield us from the horrid outside
We might be shown a much kinder world
And let it show us our own way
…but if not…
We will always stay together
And lead each other down the right road
We will be each other’s protectors