a mother's negligence (or: 一时疏忽)

heartbreaking
to see him
trip,
fall,
crash
his chin
against the surface of the floor

yet not be in time
to catch him.


heartbreaking,
that stunned silence
the moment after.

heartbreaking
when
the bawling starts.


heartbreaking
to see
his tear-stained face
light up again
minutes later,
knowing
he's put the past
behind him
already,

but you haven't.


heartbreaking,
when
he clings on to you,
hugs you
like you saved him,
you comforted him--

--he doesn't blame you at all;

he
doesn't
even
know.

but you do.