What if?

What if . . .

your son was spiraling into a dark place

where you could not reach him

and he called out for you

his screams and cries cutting

through to your heart

threatening to make it explode


What if . . .

the only people who could "help"

did not see the wonderfulness that is your son

could not understand your fear and desperation

did not share your hope and belief in your son

and were willing to let him sink deeper and deeper


What if . . .

you were too exhausted

and confused

and overwhelmed

to fight the way you have fought

in the past


What if . . .

you didn't know how to help him

didn't know what was wrong

or what to do

and you don't even know

what you are supposed

to be fighting for


What if . . .

the deepest darkest fear

that you don't want to admit

to anyone,

least of all yourself

is that this is just the start

of you losing your son

and that one day

worse than him screaming out

for you to help him

will be

when the screaming stops