My friend

Higher, higher!

The swing goes high

Higher and higher!

I scream with joy

Yet there is someone there

Who cannot share my joy

For he is afraid

Afraid of heights

He is scared

But he wants me to be happy

So he just watches me swing

Higher and higher

I want him to be happy too

"Sit here" I order

Pointing to a swing

He shakes his head

I plead with him

But he is resolute

Heights is something he is afraid of

I give into him

We walk over to a jungle gym

I climb higher and higher

He stays close to the ground

The hot summer sun beats down on my back

And reaches my eyes

And blinds me, a black cloud over my eyes

I cry out for help, I can’t see anything

I am scared

My hands are struggling to hold on

Until another hand grabs mine

And carefully, shakily, it leads me down to the ground

The black cloud over me eyes lifts and I gaze in awe and wonder

At my friend