Chronic Pain

she cried in the dark
so nobody could see
she screamed into the pillow
why me why me
She denied the tag
of disability
she refused to be addicted
to their pills of relief

Those that took care of her
Over all of those years
Those she held so dear
Didn’t even realize
As much as they tried
She felt like on old tired couch
One you’ve had so long
So very worn out
Hard to look at
Uncomfortable to be on
But can’t be thrown out

The mask she wore
Tough till the end
Grew cracked
Faster then the hands
Of the clock that
raced around the face

And this is how
They found here
When she finally gave in
To the voices in her head

They whispered
There is another place
Another place
Another place