Beneath the Veneer

~his strength~ Paul is a recent lone survivor of a plane crash. A few of those perished, his close friends. He's attended a cavalcade of funerals in just a month. Outwardly, he seems fine; He handles the persistent pain and burns throughout his body better than expected. He tries the best he can to adjust to a new normal. He puts on a brave face publicly as he keeps up appearances here and there. Superficially, the face of strength and resilience. ~his fragility~ Yet in the loneliness of night he's haunted by the last screams of his perished passengers. He wakes in the dead of night screaming himself. He's wrestling with gnawing demons; beset with insomnia and a crippling anxiety as survivor's guilt takes hold. He hides behind his smiles and sense of humor, but in actuality, he's struggling to cope with the aftermath mentally, emotionally and psychologically. He regrets that he survived; a walking casualty. Juxtaposition Poetry Contest (Winner: 2nd Place) Sponsored by Silent One Date written: 11/23/2020