we lie on opposite sides of the riverbank

and the river in between

is polluted with the darkest, cruelest thoughts of people

who judge without thinking

who act without knowing

and who hate without reason

no one dares to cross this fragile line

 for fear of falling in and swirling away with nothing to cling to

she did

she walked the narrow bridge

with wobbly steps of caution

warning her not to lean more to one side than another

but then with steps carefree and light, less cautious now

so that when she lost her footing and fell

she barely noticed

sinking further and further

until we could no longer pull her out

but they had ropes, taut and strong as steel

they hauled her to safety

but something was different

she was on the other side of the river now

looking back at us, not with helpless puppy eyes

but with eyes bright with happiness and anticipation

brimming with hope

almost as if that was where she truly belonged.