Today, I felt unhappy
more than yesterday.
They asked me why,
and I laid bare my reasons,
my struggles, my efforts.
But their reply came dismissively,
as if rehearsed,
"You chose this, dear.
Happiness isn’t hard."

Maybe they’re right.
Maybe I am naive,
unable to see the obvious.
But how do I show them?
How do I explain the weight,
the heaviness that grows
no matter how much I try to shake it?

I try, every single day.
I wake up, push forward,
put on a...