Well, why do you pause?
Come - get it over with.
Finish the thing, and be done.
I can't see you,
but I know you are there.
I can feel you...
I've been waiting for you,
and finally you arrive,
but you wait... you hold back,
you hesitate.

Why?
Did you think I would tremble?
Do you want me to fear?
Perhaps you expect me to plead,
or pray or repent or cry out...!
Step out from the shadows,
come forward,
and claim your prize.
I won't turn my back,
I won't turn away.
I'll stand here and watch you
as you draw closer to me.

Is it a game for you,
that you always win?
Because you do win, you know,--
every time.
There's just no way you can lose.
But this time, just maybe,
it's a little bit different?
Because I'm not playing your game.
I won't go by your rules,
and I won't accept the idea
that you "win" and I "lose."
Oh, that will happen, I know,
but it is only a loss to me,
if I allow myself to call it that.
But I won't, because I don't see it that way.

You still haven't shown yourself...
Your presence is stronger,
and I wait for you,
but you are finding out
that it is hard to intimidate someone
when they refuse to cooperate.
You are to be respected,
and I acknowledge that completely.
But you have no right to be feared,
and you have no right
to cause someone to bow before you,
and beg at your approach...
It isn't a dignified way at all,
and it isn't what anyone should do.

I have simply come to the end of the run,
and I can look back over the trail
and see the hills and valleys,
the twists and flats,
and I know where it went well,
and I see where I made my mistakes.
Life is learning, and trying,
and it was to me to do my best,--
and now there is no more to do.
So I am here, now,
waiting for you.
I don't know how long I have been waiting,
but I am patient, and eventually
I know you will have to step out from the shadows.
When you finally do,
I will still be standing here, waiting,
and I am unafraid...
because I have been there before.
I am ready to return.

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