shes 6 years old and she falls off her bike
the big gash on her knee laughs with the pain of defeat and embarrassment
her mom and dad rush up, looks of genuine worry plastered on their faces
she cries louder than she even has before
because she has tried to ride that damn bike so many times before
and she wonders if its even worth it to try anymore
and the blood gushes from the wound and her mom utters,
“it is better to feel pain than to feel nothing at all”
acting as if she can’t hear
but she can
and the blood won’t stop but she whispers to herself
it is better to feel pain than to feel nothing at all

shes 10 years old and she slips on the ice
the cut on her head laughs with the pain of defeat and embarrassment
and her best friend rushes to help her and walks her to the nurses office
she cries louder than she even has before
because she sees stars and angels and wonders if she will make it
and she wonders if its even worth it to try anymore
and the blood gushes from the wound and the nurse utters,
“it is better to feel pain than to feel nothing at all”
acting as if she can’t hear
but she can
and the blood won’t stop but she whispers to herself
it is better to feel pain than to feel nothing at all

she is 16 years old and the paper thin blade cuts her paper thin skin
and the cuts on her arms and thighs laugh with the pain of defeat and embarrassment
no one rushes to help her
because she is alone
and she cries louder than she even has before
because she has tried so many damn times to be happy
and she wonders if its even worth it to try anymore
and the blood gushes from her wounds and she utters,
“it is better to feel pain than to feel nothing at all”
acting as if she can’t hear her own thoughts
but she can
and the blood won’t stop and she whispers her last words to herself
it is better to feel pain than to feel nothing at all

{or}