It hit her so hard

That she moved

Maybe tilted

2 inches to the side

Which might seem trivial

If we were talking about a 2 inch step

Or a painting that should have been 2 inches higher.

But when you are building a fortress,

2 inches off

… disaster…

Worse though, when the fortress has already been built,

But it shifts in the night

2 small inches that no one notices.

And it begins to crumble under its unbalanced weight.

The workers try to put back the rocks that have fallen.

They try to strengthen it without seeking the source of this shift in its nature.

Then, at last, someone finally does.

Notice.

Tears.

Not of tragedy, but of true joy.

It has been discovered

In time to rebuild