dragging me along.

up the stairs,

to the slide.

i place her on my lap. 

down we go.

she giggles, she loves it.

so we do it again, 

and again,

again,

again,

again.

but now, she does not need me.

she wants to do it herself.

she goes up the stairs we went, alone.

but she smiles.

she goes down.

again,

again,

again.

and though she may have felt alone,

i was always at the end of the slide;

watching her laugh, and keeping her safe.

she was doing it on her own,

but i was only ever a slide away.

-RKA