Chrysalis, Skye Schofield-Saba ‘21

I Hold On

The first time I saw you you were so small and blue, I held you tightly because I was all you knew.

When I first brought you home time seemed to fly, those are the memories that money cannot buy.

Step by step you slowly learned to move, but I still held on tightly I could only give you so much room.

You learned your words and what to say, I tried to make you laugh it was a game we loved to play.

Soon it was time for you to start school, I held onto you tightly telling you ‘remember the golden rule’.

Day by day it went by so fast, elementary school was soon in your past.

You got bigger and bigger, it felt so abrupt, I still held you tightly only now I couldn’t pick you up.

You started at a new school and felt out of place, you denied me as I tried to hold you, that was a slap in the face.

We talked and talked through all of your hard times, I know it was difficult but eventually the stars aligned. And then you only had four years left, I held onto you tightly as my heart filled with regret.

Then one day I gave you the keys to my car, but I still held on tightly because I didn’t want you to go too far.

Then you started dating, I thought he was a tool, but even if he wasn’t no one will ever be good enough for you.

But time after time you chose him and not me, it was a constant struggle to hold you but also set you free.

And soon you would feel the worst pain on earth, he cheated and lied but you learned your worth.

Next we took a trip to a campus far away, I held onto you tightly but I knew you wanted to stay.

You finally hit your senior year, I held onto you tightly because soon you would disappear.

Then one day an acceptance letter came in the mail, I held onto you tightly because you had prevailed.

As you walked across the stage I beamed with pride, you seemed to grow up in the blink of an eye. And now I watch as you drive away far, but I still hold you tightly only now without my arms.

I love you more than you can ever know, and even though you’re now gone you will always be my home.

— Grace Mykityshyn ‘22