I promise

I promise, 

To believe in promises.

It started with pinky promises

In a hushed corner of the class 

Or in the far end of the girls washroom.

We swore to never tell anyone,never talk of it again.

I didn't realize anyone didn't include close friends and family

And of course acquaintances on the way.

That's the day I stopped believing.

I promise

I will try to believe in promises.

To not be judgemental of people,

Who give out their hands,with their palms facing up.

Asking me to promise them, to never tell anyone.

What I didn't realize was they did the same with ten other people.

While I kept my silence and observed from the shadows,

The others exchanged notes and compared stories,

when all we lacked was a bunch of post-its and highlighters.

I promise,

To try to understand what a promise really means.

To understand and list the do's and don'ts,

Of this whole promise keeping business.

To let people know they can still trust me, 

While my life maybe an open book with no secrets,

I can guard theirs with my life.

I promise, to try and to let people know

I too have promises to keep,

Before I go.