ReflectionPerspective

Climbing down

Feeling someone's pain happens on its own. Staying invested in it is the part you choose, and climbing in after them doesn't lift anyone out.

Someone starts telling you what's going wrong for them.
Something drops in you before they've finished.

That part is a reflex.
Feeling it was never up to you.

What comes after is.
Carrying it home. Turning it over at midnight.
Living in their situation like it has your name on it.

They're deep in something.
Climbing down doesn't lift anyone out.
It takes away the one pair of hands still on solid ground.