Push

You push. All you do is push. Push and push until they finally push back. Mumbling apologies to hide mistrust. Smiling to hide disdain. And you buy it. Well, deep down you know it's all bullshit, words to make sure you don't catch on, but on the surface you want to believe they're true. And that's when the hurt starts to creep in. It only starts on the surface, sliding across your skin, but it works it's way down. Through muscle and tissue, nerves and veins, the pain moves deeper. It scrapes on your bones with ferocity and burns your marrow in a blaze of unbearable fire and tears. Pain. Everything. Everywhere. You scream but no one hears. No one wants to hear. Every breath sends lances of fire through your being. Your fists tremble violently with the effort it takes to stay still. And then, through the pain and the tears and the sheer ferocity of it all, you push again.

Push.