From friendly
smiling
conversing easily
to entirely
involuntarily
vulnerable
when pushed to
forced to
hang your heart up
in front of so many strangers,
I saw you change.
Each hand held
in a tight
shaking
clenching
and
unclenching fist,
your lips and chin quivered
your voice shook
and broke
between the breaths
you tried
to breathe in
as you grasped
for any air left
in that hot room.
Your eyes danced
with small
and
bigger tears
that you somehow kept
from falling
as you relived the
humiliation
right there
in front of all of us.
Then I saw you change again
shift your focus
showing compassion
and empathy
toward those near you
being in their place
feeling what they felt
hurting along with them
your feet aching
and throbbing
in their sandals
as you walked in them
until we all started
to feel it too.