Three Simple Words: age 12

Sarah had not had a moment to respond to David’s beautiful poem he had written. It was a bit long. She had not even had time to write new poetry. A month had passed and her family was still angry with her. They acted like she had betrayed a family secret, simply by befriending a neighbor.

When Sarah’s older sister decided to spend an overnight at a friend’s house she felt her chance had finally arrived to respond. Unfortunately, words would not come. Wanting to share something, anything, Sarah decided to share an older poem she had written months ago.
As she walked to school, she quickly placed the old poem into the book box and barely glanced toward David’s house as she hurried to the Bus stop.

David had been sipping his morning tea when he saw her walk by, pause at the book box, and hurriedly continue on. Curiosity got the better of him. He walked outside, the anticipation building within him. He opened the book box, retrieved the note, and began to read Sarah’s words. Tears welled up in his eyes as he felt the weight of her pain and longing.

The only thing I truly desired from you

was a simple three worded phrase.

All I ever got from you

was a hard sarcastic gaze.

Why is it so hard to say

a simple, from the heart “I love you.”?

It would take all this pain away,

A simple, from the heart “I love you.”

David responds:

Oh, the power of three little words,

A message so simple, yet so profound,

But for you, my dear, it’s all unheard,

Your heart feels lost, without that sound.

For you, my heart aches to hear

all you received was disdain

The love longed for did not appear,

instead, a sharp glare caused pain

My dear friend, I feel your pain

To desire love and not receive

I understand the hurt that you sustain

can be a wound that’s hard to relieve

Why did they prove so hard to say?

The healing that could take place

Perhaps fear and doubt got in the way

If only they could find the grace

Words hold so much power,

But some are harder to say,

Emotions can make us cower,

Even those we want to convey.

Three little words can be tough

But perhaps there’s more to the story

Especially when emotions seem rough

That’s causing your loved ones to worry

It takes courage to express love openly

It’s hard to open one’s heart unreservedly

Fear and doubt can cloud one’s mind

And make it difficult to be kind

For “I love you” from the heart

is a journey of love, hope, and bliss

it can be a beautiful place to start

a life filled with joy, endless.

But remember, love is shown

Not just in words, but in deeds,

Sometimes it’s not in the tone,

But in a way that someone leads.

Don’t give up hope, my dear friend

Keep your heart open and true

For love can conquer and mend

And love will come to you, too

In the meantime, hold on tight

And know that God and I both value and adore you.

Let our love fill your life with light

Remember the love of those whose hearts won’t ignore you.

David wanted to add a glimmer of resilience and hope to her words.

Returning to his desk, David reached for his pen and began to write. With each stroke of ink on paper, his response poured forth—a symphony of empathy and understanding, woven with his own struggles and the reminders he needed to hold onto. It was a lifeline thrown into the abyss, hoping that it would reach Sarah’s heart and remind her that she was not alone.

As he finished writing, David felt a sense of purpose rekindled within him. Despite his own battles with faith and the weight of regret, he realized that his journey with Sarah was far from over. They were both searching for solace, for answers and perhaps they could find them together.

Days turned into weeks once again, and David patiently waited for Sarah’s response. He continued to write and pray, finding strength in the connection they shared.