For a grieving friend

When your heart feels as fragile as a shell

As though at any moment it might crack

Leave it with me for a while

I will hold it carefully in my palms

Taking comfort in the rhythm

As you lay your head on your pillow

And close your eyes and rest

* * *

When your head just can't take any more

Remember to breathe

In with the good

Out with the bad

In through your nose

Out through your mouth

In and out

In and out

In and out

Over and over

Until the calm comes to soothe you

It may take a lot of breath

But you will get there

* * *

When you feel unbearably sad

And in over your head

Share your tears with me

So that you can remember 

You are taken care of

Only one thing is expected from you:

That you feel loved

* * *

When the weight of the world

Is too much for your shoulders to bear

I will take the world from you

And remind you

That no one should have to carry that weight alone

It's okay

I have strong shoulders too

* * *

When you are simply too tired to cook a meal

Or to clean your house

Or to buy food to feed yourself

Or anything else at all, big or small

I will bring you food

I will clean your house

I will buy you groceries

I will do anything you need

Anything at all

* * *

When you feel weak

And have no more left to give

Remember that deep down you are strong

But that doesn't mean that you have to be right now

It's okay to soak your aching bones

To tend to your hurting heart

To cry so much you run out of tears

In time you will feel restored

But for now it's okay to give in

It's not the same as giving up

* * *

Take time to grieve

Take time for yourself

But never forget that whenever you need to talk

Or you need a hug

Or a coffee

Or just reassurance that the world isn't in fact crumbling

Know that I am here for you

My friend

There is distance between us

But there really is no distance at all