"An inch away from weeping"

I heard someone say that once before;

it didn't mean so much to me then.

I reached down into my heart today

searching around for something -

anything solid to hold on to.

I found

old promises, long broken

songs, words I remembered but tunes I struggled with  

remnants of dreams, long buried or lost

heartaches, better left in the darkness  

and memories

oh, so many memories

of faces held dear, now lost to the years

of hands that have held mine

of smiles and tears that have been shared

of laughter and conversations echoing through my soul

but the strength I sought, the strength I'll need

to hold me, to sustain me

if I had to watch you walk away

wasn't there.

"An inch away from weeping"

I heard someone say that once before;

it didn't mean so much to me then.

Now I think I understand.