Do you know what pain is?

Do you know what pain is?

Pain is loving someone
But never letting them know
Pain is watching them walk away
When you can't bear for them to go

Pain is caring for someone
Who doesn't return your love
Pain is not being able to sleep
Because they're all you think of

Pain is knowing it can never be
Yet loving them all the same
Pain is crying all night and day
Because you can't stand the rain

And when you look up at the stars
And analyze the sky
Pain is asking heaven
If maybe it's better to die

Pain is trying to move on
When there's nothing you can do
This is something I ought to know
Pain is loving you.

One morning, on the way home from work

she noticed a man sitting behind her on the bus

middle aged eyes closed,  holding a plastic shopping bag

A few days later as they exited the bus at the same time

he stopped her, tapping on her shoulder

"Do you know where the nearest laundry is? "

She did and gave him directions-

he smiled and thanked her

A week later he approached her again

quiet voice,  little eye contact

"do you know any place nearby that sells tacos ?"

She did, and once more explained where it was

he thanked her again,  his voice barely a whisper

Weeks later,  as she was leaving the bus 

he walked behind her again

asking if she could "show him the nearest grocery?"

She smiled and motioned him to follow her down a side street

he walked behind her, and suddenly wrapped zip ties around her wrists

pulled them tight against her back, holding a gloved hand over her mouth

Down a dark alley,  He shoved her against a fence

then his mouth was next to her right ear,  breathing deeply

voice no longer calm

                                                                                                                        "Do you know what pain is?"

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