You who are unattached, judge as you wish.
You who are my peers, look on me with disdain.
You who have authority, sentence me.
You who knew me before, fear me.
I ask, you who have love, imagine my pain.
I ask, you who have siblings, know my desire.
I ask, you who have the power, understand my wish.
We were students, and she our teacher.
We were siblings in heart, and she our mother.
We were a family, and she loved us.
We were alone, and she found us.
She died, and we wept.
She left us, and we lost hope.
We were students, and she our teacher.
We learned well, and she would be proud.
We missed her, and she was gone.
I made a choice.
You who were not here, will never understand.
When your teacher leaves.
When your mother dies.
When your siblings look to you for guidance.
When you realize you are a child too.
When you know the ache of loss.
When you can't do it by yourself.
When you have the power.
When you realize you don't have to do it yourself.
When you know how to fix it.
When you see your siblings cry.
When you decide to fix it.
When you find yourself in that position.
You may judge me.
But, you will find, you will make the same choice as mine.
And they will judge you.
And they will sentence you.
And they will fear you.
And you will ask them to imagine your pain.
And you will ask them to know your desire.
And you will ask them to understand your wish.
But, you will do the same.
For the three who need her.
For the three who loved her.
For the three who looked to you.
For the three you love.
You will make the same choice.