hold out forever

^{All around your island,   There's a barricade}

 ^{keeps out the danger, holds in the pain}

Generous, to a fault

that is a phrase I heard from a friend of a friend

describing Janine

She meant it as a compliment,  I'm sure

not trying to be ironic about her nature:

overly patient with strangers,  

reclusive and distant with friends

the hours and money she spent with people she hardly knew

the phone calls and parties she ignored from friends 

At arm's reach - I used to think

but looking back now 

it wasn't even that close 

^{You got a heart so big,  it could crush this town}

 ^{And I can't hold out              forever}

 ^{Even walls fall                   down}

^{italics-  Tom Petty-  Walls}