An Arm Around My Shoulder

With an arm around my shoulder
Gently pulling me aside
Looking at me with his dark brown eyes
Knowing there's something I have to confide.

"What is it?"
He asks; "Kate, tell me now."
I open my mouth to explain
But I don't quite know how.

I wish I'd worn a sweatshirt
So I could cover up the handprints
The red marks on my wrists
Displaying my boyfriend's loss of sense.

Wanting to forget
About that pain I'd gone through
But he'd yelled and grabbed my arm
And I wasn't sure what to do.

Still his arm is around me
And he makes me look at him
He touches my arm softly and I look up
Into his face, dark and grim.

"What happened? Is it Lynch?"
He asks, calling my boyfriend by his last name
I sigh and nod
And a look of surprise appears on his face.

He asks me to tell him everything
And so I spill my story
And as I talk
I see his eyes fill with worry.

I tell him how my boyfriend
Had lost his temper earlier that day
All because I came to school sick
And I had just pulled back and walked away.

I added for him not to worry about it
But he shook his head, his mouth tight and thin
"No, don't worry about it."
He said. "I'm going to talk to him."

I nod and his arm slides away
And I say, "Thankyou so much - I love you."
He smiles and hugs me
And says, "I love you, too."

I saw them after school
Standing off, alone together
A calm, but stern look on his face
My boyfriend's eyes on the ground, knowing better.

After an apology and a phone call
My boyfriend thought he was OK
But I still had a nagging feeling
That wouldn't go away.

I meet my friend the next morning
And tell him thank-you for whatever it was he said
He says it wasn't a big deal
Although his face is a little red.

I thank him again
And give him a hug
He smiles and says, "Anytime."
And gives a little shrug.

A few days later
I can't take any more stress
And finally break up with my boyfriend
Ending the whole mess.

I wait at my friend's locker
And tell him I'm free
He draws me into a deep hug
And says he's happy for me.

I look into his eyes
And can't decide if the twinkle I see
Is merely a friend's happiness
Or a hopeful gleam.