Tread Softly

"Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet,
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams"
--WB Yeats

A sudden flash. Seething pain. Unwanted memories/sights/fears.

Wonder.

Did time stop for both of us?

Did things lose meaning for both of us?

Did it hurt so bad you wanted to cry out loud?

Did you ever want to give back what you had so mercilessly taken away?

Did you ever regret being so selfish?

Did you ever want to turn back time and give me back my innocent life?

Did you ever want to repay me that, which made you what you are, gave you a life, meaning to your existence, let you follow your dreams at the cost of mine?

Did you ever pray that finally happiness might kiss my life?

Pray that I might never ever shrink from fear of being beaten black and blue?

Did you ever wish me well? For one insane moment?

Did you ever repent for your cruelty? Your madness? Your covetousness? Your greed?

Did you for one moment, consider paying me back all that hard earned money that I foolishly spent to better your lot?

Did you ever love me so that dying might have been the easiest I could ask of you?

Did you ever?

Many a night, I cry for what I lost.

Many a night, I wish I had never ever come across you.

Many a night, I silently hope it will dawn on you that the money that bought you everything in life, was never yours to use or keep, to help dream, and hence will remain a debt for life.

Many a night, I pray that my God avenges me.