We choose
defiance over grief

Moving forward
over slowing down to contemplate

Masking our pain
instead of facing it

Staying busy
rather than letting the hurt
grab ahold of us

We cover the holes in our heart so adeptly
that even those closest to us can only see the glimmer of light
sneaking past the mountains
of sadness eclipsing our light

On the outside
we feign the appearance of everything is fine

In truth
we are worn out
tired of overcoming
emotionally exhausted
decimated by loneliness
stuck in the middle of nowhere
screaming to the heavens
as we struggle to hang on

We find ourselves
looking to those that remain
to fill the gaps of those that are no longer here
only to be greeted by the harsh reality
that some holes are simply too big to fill

We lash out in frustration
and our cries go unanswered

We walk a path toward peace
on a narrow road nestled neatly
between anger and hurt,
there is no end in sight

We see light
and then turn a corner
that leads us back to darkness

We are hopeful
but this taxing journey
threatens to take away all that we love

In our heart
we know we will make it

In our mind
we are unsure of what our world
will look like when we do

Will our loved ones still be there?

Will the blissful joy ever come back?

Will the soul that emerges on the other side resemble the soul that began the journey?