Beside Me

I lost the trail before the dark.
No signal left. No distant light.
My hands were numb, my legs gave out.
I knew I wouldn't last the night.

Then somewhere just behind my step
I heard another step behind.
I turned around. There was no one.
Just frozen earth and empty ground.

Then a voice said,
“Keep moving.”
Not loud.
Not far.

Someone walked beside me
when I could barely stand.
I never saw his face,
but I knew that he was there.
Every time I stopped,
he waited in the dark.
Every time I fell,
he said, “Get up.
We're not done yet.”

I talked to him to stay awake.
He spoke whenever I went quiet.
I asked him where he'd come from.
He only told me, “Keep moving.”

And when the morning found the road,
I saw the lights below the hill.
I turned to tell him we were safe.

The road behind me
was empty still.

Someone walked beside me
through every frozen mile.

No footprints next to mine.
No shadow at my side.

They asked me how I made it.
I didn't know what to say.

I only know
I wasn't alone
until I found my way.

Sometimes I still hear him
when the night gets quiet.

“Keep moving.”