Chapter Text
It begins with a breath,
a pause before the storm gathers.
The hand that does not falter,
even when the ground shakes.
The silence of vigilance,
listening for what might come.
It is the cup of warmth offered
on the coldest of days.
A barrier that does not cage,
but invites freedom within.
The weight of care,
unseen but deeply felt.
A voice that rises only
to calm the chaos.
The invisible thread
connecting what matters.
A circle drawn around you,
not of limits, but of safety.
It is found in the grip of a steady hand
when the current pulls hard.
A gaze meeting yours,
steady and unbroken.
The simple act of remaining,
when leaving would be easier.
It is the trust in knowing
you will be caught if you fall.
A quiet sentinel,
holding space so you can grow.
The way a tree bends with the wind
but does not break.
A choice made a thousand times
and never spoken aloud.
It is the courage to be vulnerable,
to give without guarantee.
A bond, stronger than walls,
carved into the marrow of existence.
Protection endures,
not as a shield, but as love in motion.
It is the anchor in the storm,
holding fast when all else drifts away.
It is the quiet flame that burns,
guiding you home through the darkest night.
The unseen strength that carries you,
when your own begins to fade.
And when you step into the unknown,
it whispers behind you:
You are not alone.