Tenderness

Her hands are small—almost half the size of my own.

Her tiny feet barely leave the kitchen floor as she quickly makes her way toward me.

Both of our arms are wide open, waiting for the other person to be in them.

She slams her body into me and her head is even with my belly.

She rests her blonde head against it. She sighs and her eyes close.

Her hands circle my back and my hands cradle her head and neck.

She lifts her heavy head and peaks up at me with eyes so

Tender.

She’s

Bouncing

Reaching

Begging

Laughing

I compress, hook my hands under her arms, and lift her. She’s gotten heavy.
She circles my neck with her arms and lays her head on my collar.

She’s missed me and I’ve missed her. I’ve missed them all so much.

She’s seven years already, but I’ve known her for only three. It feels like longer.

We’re close and at times I feel more like a mother to her than a sister.

She gently lifts her head so it is even with my own head.

Our eyes are even and she’s looking at me with a smile so

Tender.

She’s

Squirming

Squealing

Kicking

Flailing

Her long blonde, curly ponytail sways and bounces as she retreats.

I crouch, ready to pounce, and chase her toward the family room.

She squeals again when she turns around as I catch and overwhelm her with tickles.

She collapses to the ground in a ball shape and I fall with her.

We lay there side by side and we laugh, out of breath, on the floor.

I stare into her eyes and can see she looks up to me—I have to make her proud.

With all the bad influences in this world, I need to show her what is good.

My thumb lightly draws small circles across her plump, rosy cheeks.

Her light blue, wide, round eyes peek in to my soul, so

Tender.

We’re

Smiling

Looking

Breathing

Loving

Sometimes I wonder how such a little human can mean so much to me.

The thing that scares me the most is losing her, no—losing them.

I soak up their love like a sponge. It keeps me going, alive. I crave it. I need it.

I lay there with her on the ground, thinking of who she will be, who I will be.

In that moment it’s just the two of us, together, being so

Tender.

I’m

Thinking

Wondering

Hoping

Dreaming

Our moment ends with a knock. She scrambles to her feet to see who is at the door.

I lay there thankful, thankful for these people that love me with their whole hearts.

The moment may have been fleeting, but our love for each other will always be so

Tender.