My wound ached.

So circling around it we became one.

It remained.

So I drank to numb it.

But it came back.

So I bought new clothes to hide it.

But it came back.

So I ate bags of chips to satiate it.

But it came back.

So I took sleeping pills to forget about it.

But it came back.

So I binge-watched show after show to erase it.

But it came back.

So I tried to bandage it myself day after day after day after day.

But it came back.

So I worried.

But it came back.

So I tried to ignore it.

But it came back.

So I got angry and blamed my husband.

But it came back.

So I yelled and screamed at anyone who came near me.

But it came back.

So I read page after page of book after book with solutions.

But it came back.

So I finally relented in my pain

knowing it would come back.

So I held it

as it came back.

So I accepted it

and it came back softer.

So I owned it.

and it came back whispering in the lonely night.

So I relented.

and my wound became my peace.

So I prayed and finally gave up

and it grew lighter.

So I was grateful.

and I moved on.