o little boy i almost snapped you back in half, you pitched forward with such glee, such abandon, such wild joy and up up into my hands i held you aloft but you wanted to keep going, kept pitching forward and i couldn’t hold onto you my son, i couldn’t, i couldn’t stop your momentum and i tried so very hard, i tried with such determination, but your body folded in completely the wrong direction and i heard the softest of cracks, so soft and sharp and the world froze and you yelped like an animal and barely muttered for your mother and i held you close, held you tight, maybe it would all go back together if i held you and i tested your feet, made you stand while you cried gobs of tears and made you wiggle your fingers, your toes, i made you stand further away and asked you to walk to me and when it appeared you were alright i held you tighter still and finally wept and sobbed and you told me it was okay, you were okay, i didn’t have to cry, you were alright, you were alright.