You stand there

on the side of a road

with no traffic

and no one coming your way

with raindrops sliding off your skin

soaking your clothes

but all that matters

is the distant echo

of his strong yet soft voice

made weary by the years of responsibility

of the whole world resting on his shoulders

and oh so careful not to reveal too much

how he needs you

wants you to be there

right by his side

where you both know you belong

scared of being vulnerable

layers over layers

masking all that he is

that even he forgot who's the person

showing through the cracks

in the masks he wears

too scared of learning

and seeing all the broken pieces laid bare

that he desperately tries to hide

on the other side of the world

connected through waves and signals

now severed

and you know he'll need you

though not now

don't know when

but you'll wait for him

you'll wait right here

not knowing if he'll call again