On a scale of 0ne to ten,
his pain hovers at eight.

"Why complain."

It's not a question;
it's a statement.

Even his partner can forget
his love's daily struggle for normalcy.

The only logical option?
Carry on. 

Self-pity denies life,
and life is what he chooses,
and life continues,
right there between
aching and acceptance. 

Text and image © 2012 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.