shelter
tornado warning
EVACUATE THE BUSES
everyone rushes back into the school
you're already in position when i get inside
i see your face
KEEP WALKING
you open your mouth as if to say something
i almost stop and sit next to you
DO NOT STOP UNTIL YOU GET TO A CLASSROOM
bye, i think in my head
you look so scared i want to reach out and hug you
i want to tell you it'll all be okay
that i'll see you again
but i'm rushed forward
ASSUME TORNADO PROTECTION POSITION
the hall seems so long
the chaos is deafening
breathing is hard
all those bodies packed into such a small amount of space
i hear crying
i want to tell everybody that we'll all be fine
but everyone has gone quiet
thirty minutes go by
then an hour
IT IS NOW SAFE TO LEAVE THE BUILDING
i rush back to the hallway where i last saw you
there you are
getting ready to leave
you look relieved
but also stressed
you see me and as i keep walking back to my bus
you watch me until i'm out of sight
BACK TO BUSES
i cry as i make my way to my bus
wipe my tears with my sleeve as i walk
it's over
just like you and me
which is why it hurts
i miss you
and i wish i could've been your shelter then
just like i used to be
it used to be me who held you when you were scared
who told you it was all going to be okay in the end
that was my job
and now you're either with that new girl
or you're by yourself
like you were in the hallway
looking scared
and there was nothing i could do about it
i'm sorry i'm not your shelter anymore