Hanging On

A lanyard lays waiting, frayed at the edge,

a dull plastic tether, my heart's buried pledge.

Reminds me of summers, of laughter, of days,

but friendship now echoes in so many ways.

I sift through the past, but I want to let go,

the memories linger, and each one feels slow.

Yet here in this box, the weight still remains,

a testimony to time, both sweet and with pains.