The Pain

She watched him run from her—
away from discomfort
and into his pain
(only to feel more discomfort).

An addiction stood between them.
His or hers?
Flesh or mind?

A need to function
or a need to breathe—
to quiet the panic
or escape the desperation?

She watched herself run to him—
away from truth
and into her desperation
(only to feel more desperation).

An addiction stood between them.
Hers or his?
Mind or flesh?

A need to breathe
or a need to function—
to quiet the panic
or feed the desperation?

She watched them run towards each other—
toward what they couldn’t let go of
and into their hearts.

She watched them run away from each other—
away from the damage
and into the distance.

As they begin to untangle,
the tension shifts—
they loosen,
or they don’t.

As they begin to tangle,
the tension shifts—
they bind,
or they break.

Which step will he take—
to tangle or untangle?

Which step will she take—
to untangle or tangle?

How many times
can the heart break
and still return?

An addiction stood between them.
Hers or his? His or hers?
Mind or flesh? Flesh or mind?

A need to breathe
or a need to function—
to quiet the panic
or feed the desperation?

Maybe all of it. 

Sometimes,
they keep choosing each other—
even when it hurts.

And sometimes,
they keep choosing each other—
and learn to untangle.

Sometimes,
the pain is worth it.

Sometimes, it’s not.

For today, in this moment,
it’s… worth it.