For Robert O’Donnell

October 16th, 1987: after a 58 hour recovery mission, Robert O’Donnell rescued 18 month old Baby Jessica from a well. 8 years later, he took his own life. 
 
When you surfaced 
with everybody’s baby in your arms, 
the world’s hands, calloused from applause, 
slipped back into its pockets and walked.
 
But when the world watches you bloom,
it waits to watch you wilt, too.
 
And a baby is a baby until they are 
a savior, a parent, a father.
If we are born to save, raise, and 
leave then,
 
it’s a gorgeous and terrifying truth—
we were only here for other people.

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