I’ll sit here and hold your hand
Because I won’t let you give up

I’ll sit here and laugh with you
Because I know you haven’t smiled in a while

I’ll sit here and listen to all your questions
Because I know you want the answers

I’ll sit here and talk to you
Because tomorrow they could find a cure for what ails you

I’ll sit here and pray with you
Because I believe in miracles

I’ll sit here and feed you
Because you need the energy to keep going

I’ll sit here and become your family
Because no one should do this alone

I’ll sit here and tell everyone “NO,” who wants to let you die
Because I know you’re a fighter

I’ll sit here and tell you to hold on
Because there’s always HOPE

I’ll sit here and wait until God’s ready for you
Because God knew you before you were born
And this is not the way he wanted it

Jessica Gallagher, an incoming freshman at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School, wrote this poem as an eighth-grader at St. William the Abbot School in Seaford. It was selected as a first-place winner in the annual diocesan Respect Life poetry, essay, art, and photography contest.