Heartbeat
They ran laughing
Into the night.
Hand in hand.
Heart in heart.
Twenty-One, and Nineteen.
Forging new pathways,
Skirting danger,
Laughing at the wind.
It took only
A second,
A heartbeat,
For the driver
To mow them down.
It took only
A second,
A lifetime
For love realized
to be lost.
But years before
He stood next to his father
Who said the choice is yours.
And the proud young man
Checked the box
And signed his name
Not knowing
That the heart
He gave the girl
Would not be
His to give.
Seven hours
Of waiting,
Praying,
Hoping.
Seven hours
Of holding breaths
And hands,
And the heart
Began to beat
Again.
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