Extended metaphor with my neurodivergent child

Never so free as when you soar above me 
you’re helium balloon tied to my wrist, never so light 
never so swift never so high as when you are in
flight. Never so heavy, you’re sand-laden bag tied to 
a string tied to my hand our waists tied together 
heavy we climb tied our two hearts we trip into 
free fall. Free fall like two stones two heavy stones 
dropping through air dropping through time—sometimes 
like divers buoyed we pop breaking 
surface and dance a wild dance—soon chain-balled we
bottom back to black mud in my mirror your frightened 
eyes, mine in yours. At slack tide today we float halfway 
up—or sink halfway down, we can’t ever tell. Our senses 
alert abated our breath we wonder which next—
helium or lead?