Done

* For all those who suffer in silence with chronic pain * ~ to my face … “I understand” but you do NOT why do you speak with such a forked tongue? is ‘imbecile’ tattooed on my brow? am I missing that each morning when the mirror laughs its age at me? I know what you say to others I know the change of tone in your voice I know the awkward humming and avoidances this plague has been with me since my earliest memories - the darkness, the excruciating silence the disapparated stomach you and others have witnessed it all these many years - the devastation and struggle - some of you even knew it yourSELF … once yet now it’s an excuse?!? for WHAT, pray tell?? hours of endless fun in the darkened silence with eyes covered and ears plugged? no food, no drink, no movement or light or sound for hours on end?? who WOULDN’T be craving such revelry and joy?? (yes, that’s sarcasm) but, see … ONE thing has changed one very important thing and that’s the fact that no matter WHAT you may think this is MY reality and what others who can’t understand DO with that I just do … not … CARE … not now … and I am done apologizing for it or feeling bad because my inescapable chronic pain has somehow put a dent in others’ good humor … no one ELSE apologizes I’ll be damned if I will … it is beyond my control beyond your understanding and beyond my will or desire to explain … anymore. Copyright © Gregory Richard Barden, January 4, 2023