A soft sigh of relief.

The ache dulls as the medicinal taste fills my mouth.

The fight is almost over for now.

What I needed right in the nick of time.

The sharp knives dulled and needles removed from my skin.

A prayer of thanks given in response before I fully fade.

***

The absence of pain not the only reminder of pain medicine.

A reduction of self.

Boiled down to the basics but not truly functional.

Memory and sight partially obscured for now.

This day will be a loss.

Function and time given willingly for comfort in equal measure.

***

Those side effects might pop up as well.

My body might reject it in part or entirely.

Symptoms causing harm over time in the future.

Weighed on the gambling scales of “what might be” against pain.

Pain a heavy load but “what might be” nothing to discount immediately.

Only the taker can weigh both and make the choice.

***

A cycle that might or might not repeat.

Holding out against the waves of pain until I need a life jacket.

Until I am willing to reduce myself.

Until I am willing to find out what might be.

But for now while the sun is still up I will hold out.

Until the night comes and the taste spreads through my tongue again.