You Sat...

You sat
Just two down from me
On the pew.

As the preacher talked about losing an infant
My heart wandered to the recent loss of your son
I wondered if you went there too.

He said it was the closest thing
To how God felt when Jesus went to the cross.
Did his words heal or sting?

I wanted to scream
To cover or run
It’s too soon!

You stared straight ahead
Leaned forward and then back
And dared not to make eye contact

He said suffering breeds endurance,
And endurance brings character.
As if somehow to explain.

I wanted to ask
But my words
Refused to form.

I wanted to encourage,
But no sound
Exited my mouth.

At the end we all shuffled out
And said our goodbyes
But I kept going back to where you sat.