Abandoning Pain

She wears her pain like a stole of pure glass The glinting fabric distracting from Penetrating shards snarling beneath it. She struts with agonizing precision Portraying an ease she never feels A carelessness born of sensing too much. As the torment crescendos, fevered pitch Assaulted from a new direction: “Friends” who know this will pass, another come. Sparkling eyes and a painted-on smile Tears she can’t shed lest her public mask Melt like wax left in the attic too long. Normally she peals off the stole at night Letting the loss ooze from the holes left, Sobbing, desperate for sleep that can’t come. Tonight she hugs it tight, ripping her flesh She can almost see her broken heart Merging with the red water in the tub. Pain flies softly away on her last breath. June 25, 2018