Words – vacuous, hopeless, desperate –
That tumble out of my mouth in moments of despair.
You say we'll put out the fire,
I tell you, I'm well aware.
But the skin on your hand –
will it cease to singe?
"Let me know if you need anything?"

Will you trust again
After the violence ends?
Will you rest your head on my shoulder
While you mourn your friends?
I have let you down,
We are all to blame,
We didn't ask for this,
But we played our part in their game.
Words – vacuous, hopeless, desperate,
barely honest –
for what you ask of me, can I even bring?
"Let me know if you need anything?"

Mekhala Saran is a law student, a poet and a freelance journalist. Tweet to her @mekhala_saran.

Featured image credit: JR Korpa/Unsplash