A promise.
This riddle uses a clever play on the word “broken.” Most things that break are physical objects
that can be touched or held, like glass or toys. But some things can break without ever being
touched at all. A promise is one of them. A promise is a commitment or agreement between people.
When someone does not keep their word, the promise is considered broken—even though nothing
physical has changed. The riddle works because it moves away from the literal meaning of breaking
and focuses on the emotional or symbolic meaning instead.
Why it fits:
Example: Imagine a friend promises to meet you at the park but never shows up. You would say that the promise is broken. Nothing was held or touched, but the commitment no longer exists. This perfectly illustrates what the riddle describes.