October 10th

Yesterday was Yom Kippur &
someone fueled by hate
went to a synagogue
with the intention to hurt.

One of the girls in my class is Jewish,
and today she pulled out her prayer book 
that she had been holding to her chest all day
to read the mourning prayer to everyone.

She said that since she heard the news,
that prayer book had stayed close
to her. She told everyone that
it made her feel better,
reminded her of forgiveness,
and God.

And I thought that
I wished I had a prayer book
of my own 
and a God of my own
to guide me like this girl
was guided by her faith.

I thought, it sounds nice
to always have a hand to hold.