Independence.

I always wondered how
You must have felt Ma
When I took my first independent step.
When I wanted you
To let go of my tiny hand
And show you that I could stand,
And walk,
On my own.

I always wondered,
If it was easy
To let me go.
To let go of something
That clung on to you
For so long.

Wondered why the joy
Of my being able to walk
Was so profound
That the thought of
Me not needing to hold your hand anymore
For the rest of my life
Didn't even occur to you.

Wonder whether you wished
That I turn back
And run into your arms.
One last time.

But I now know.

That life
Is all about letting people you have truly loved go.
So they can walk their own paths.

With the hope that
They would sometimes pause for a moment,
Look back and smile.

And knowing that
Even if their paths cross mine
They are not going to hold on to me
As tightly as they once did.
Ever again.