He walks ahead —
a bow on his shoulder,
the sky on his back.
I walk behind —
with prayers in my breath,
and the world in my eyes.
Each step he takes,
the forest becomes softer.
Even the stones forget to hurt,
when he walks before them.
I carry no weapon.
But I carry love —
and that, too,
can silence demons.
People think I followed him out of duty.
But truth is —
even in gold palaces,
my heart was already in the forest,
if he was not beside me.
He guards the path.
I guard the peace in his heart.
His strength is in battle —
mine, in waiting, in watching,
in being.
Sometimes, when he turns
and checks if I’m close,
I smile.
Because even the Lord of the Universe
wants to make sure
I haven’t strayed too far from his love.
The world may call him a king.
But to me,
he is my temple —
and every step behind him
is a prayer.
