Being pulled like a wishbone

I agree with Leanne about the “hot tears” repetition. I also wonder about “in effort”. It seems a totally unnecessary phrase. It has no subtle secondary meaning and I think dilutes the emotion of the phrase. It appears you’re creating parallels to unify the two events, but in both, I think the “effort” lines are expendable.
I like the image of arms wrapped linked with “contain”, though I personally prefer the word “enclose” – but that’s a matter of personal writing styles only.
A very relevant piece for these nightmare sleepwalking times.
Alcuin