It's not emotional, it's 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭.
jackpot.
they'll jump hoops for you, walk through fire for you.

how seriously we are taken when it is physical,
how deeper the condolences in familiar voices,
and the repeated check-ins by strangers,

when an ulcer takes over anxiety,
and arthritis, repressed anger,

surgery here, surgery there.
a mere six months to fix yourself before injections.
and you must take them, the injections.

because the fear of your own body has overtaken you and you need something to be put in place of the back pain.
stomach pain, that is.
a week after the needle.

now think-
during the pain, can you hear anything else?
anything?

look inside your head,
I say, look inside your head