Anticipation makes me quake

I thought today would never come

My heart beats so hard it aches

I have to force myself to walk

When I desperately want to run

I close my eyes, and picture a face

A face faded by time

A picture smeared by unseen tears

I can't remember when I last saw you

But to me it feels like years

But you've come back

Joyful tears fall, you've come home

Homemade posters held high

Little flags waved wildly

And I think of mainly one thing,

'Will he even remember me?'

You get off of the plane

You walk far too slow

By the time you get to us

It'll already be tomorrow

You walk through the doors

The air's filled with cheers

And my eyes are filling with happy tears

I thank God, you've come home

You've changed, that much is true

But I can tell, you're still the old you

You've seen things I can't imagine

You're a true hero to this small town

But as you hug everyone around me

I start to feel a little bit down

You pass me by for someone else

A friend, family, I don't know

Maybe you can't tell who I am

I've gotten older, changed, grown

But surely someone should be able to tell

Even after all this time, a girl you once knew

I was smaller then, I know

And I wanted to be just like you

But this isn't about me, you've come home

The news crew is here

You're holding your niece

And I'm glad that you're back in one piece

But you've spoken to everyone here

And now I begin to fear

You've forgotten me, it's really true

I just wanted to be accepted by you

I hold back tears, it shouldn't matter

But it does, I feel the hurt

We're not really related, not at all

But I'd always imagined

That you'd be there, should I fall

You were like an uncle, or a big brother

But it appears that I'm just another

Face in the background, faded

But I sit in painful silence

And think how glad I am, you've come home

The interview's over

You set your niece down

You go for another round of hugs

Of 'welcome home's', and back rubs

But I stand to the side, watch you make your way

I want to go, but I want to stay

My vision blurs, and I hold back tears

I put on an uncaring mask, and push away fears

I can be tough, I can play that game

I'm a teenager, but right now I'm the same

Little girl that you knew, full of such life and joy

The one you encouraged when I was down

Now it's as if I was never around

A green and brown shape

Breaks through my thoughts

I force my eyes to focus, and there you are

You smile at me, and hold out your arms

Tears fill my eyes once more, not because of harm

You hug me and marvel at how I've grown

And I cry, and hug, and think,

I love you Bear, you've come home

Note: Reviews are appreciated more than you know. I know that this poem isn't the best ever, and I'm always up for constructive criticism, but please be gentle with it. This is something that really happened to me, and I cried when I wrote it, and I still cry every time I read it. And that's saying something, because I rarely cry, and it's even rarer for me to admit it. This poem isn't amazing or anything, but it does hold a lot of emotional value to me. So please keep that in mind while you are reviewing. Thanks.

~DF