I see you suffer

and I suffer with you.

I know I'm not supposed to,

I should draw a boundary

and not let your pain

enter my being--after all,

why have two people suffering?

But this is not how it works for me--

I see you suffer

and I suffer with you.

So I will carry this pain,

I will feel your pain,

I will love you with every breath,

and maybe the pain will become a cleansing fire,

maybe we will rise from the ashes renewed,

without pain,

with full joy.

I do not know.

But I will walk this path with you,

I will walk, I will walk,

each step a testament

of my love for you.

And to my surprise,

as I walk this path of love,

my steps grow lighter and lighter

and pain becomes a friend

on this temporary journey, 

this journey home,

and I know deeply,

our joy awaits,

of this I am certain.