a lone tear slid down
my face as I told you
what was pressing on
my heart like stone,
cold as death, the
chill invading my bones
and darkening my soul

you grabbed my arm,
pulling me into your wide
warm chest
in a hug so comforting,
so kind that the chill
began to thaw and
the stone to roll away

and my tears flowed freely
wetting your shirt
tears of gratitude, tears of relief
and it occurred to me that
I haven’t been hugged like
that in years

thank you
I love you