‘What would you like to know,’ she chuckles and asks
He smiles, reaches out to hold her hand
‘Tell me everything,’ he says
‘Tell me of the things that mattered
Things that brought joy and sorrow and despair and hope
And smiles and tears and nausea and nostalgia
Tell me of love and loss and birth and death
Tell me of the embers that still burn in your heart
and ones that you’ve learnt to dowse down
Of unfulfilled hopes and dreams that never took flight
and accomplishments you look back at and fill you with pride
Tell me of the love that was never meant to be
and the one that got away before the story was complete
Of the songs that you can never yet return to
and ones you think of in quiet lonely nights
Tell me of all the places you found yourself at home
and all the crowds where you felt alone
Of days when surrounded by friends, your heart found joy
and nights when a you were so lonely, you couldn’t even cry
Tell me of the despair that lurches on to your soul like a
demon
and no matter how much you try, you can’t get it off your
back
Of days when it’s simply impossible to find a reason to
leave the bed
I will bring you answers you need as best, and an ear of
empathy at least
Tell me your story, and listen to mine
for when all is said and done, that’s all that shall remain
with us
A story of yours, a story of mine
a perhaps a story, that we may call ours
Vishal Gupta
20th
March, 2022
