I came back for you in the parking lot Behind the old classrooms, with the old oak tree I retraced the tire tracks and the footprints but none led back to you I sat watching the children play with their flushed faces that would hide the nightmares they will have when they go to bed tonight. I listened to the chatters but none where the dreamy stories you made up to pretend you are still  the girl you left behind. I came back to tell you it’s alright That we’ll be okay That the wound will no longer hurt as much as it did the first time I came back to tell you, we’re not alone That we are strong That one day we’ll figure out how  to live with this  brokenness. I came back  But you are no longer waiting by the car park where we were left sobbing wondering why we have to be left behind.