The Story of Pain

She screams "Get your pain"

"Pain over here"

Baffled by the announcement

An inquisitive wanderer asks, "Did you say pain?"

Elated that someone asked

She's been standing there for hours now

Yelling the same thing in a verbose voice

"Get your pain, pain over here"

Not an outspoken or curious mind in sight until you

Glaring at you, with mystery in her eyes

You repeat, "Did you say pain"

As if jolted by electricity

The well-manicured woman who was perched up on a black box

Stepped down, while holding your gaze

"Yes, special offer today only," she mused

Her sales voice was alluring

Captivated you for a minute

Before the puzzled look was explained by your lips

Taking note, the seller answered

"If you want success, you need pain"

"If you want love, you need pain"

"If you want freedom, you need pain"

"Children, pain"

"Happiness goes through the pain"

"Forgiveness requires pain"

She stared through you

Like a microscope, your soul was open to her

A light bulb went off

Her expression changed

She continued "I'm always here. I try to make it easy by offering everyone pain. So they can voluntarily take it. Very few accept it. Many avoid it. Most lie to themselves about it, pretending not to see me. But I am infinite"

Her cream-toned dress suit sparkled as she turned to step back on her stage

One foot braced a top

Her head recoiled, as she disappointedly said

"but you don't want those things, you're too afraid."

She shook her head, returned to her box

"Get your pain"

"Pain over here"

She returned to her chant

You stand there, half present and half a spectator as you watch

yourself from the other side of the park

As if feeling eyes on you

You look in the opposite direction to see if you are watching yourself

"How much?" You asked the seller

Your facial expression is now composed looking at her unswervingly

You start to scramble in your handbag for your purse

This wasn't the plan you had when you decided to go for a walk to clear your head.

“It's free" the seller's words brought you back to reality

Free, you thought

Again she read your mind, and repeated "Yes, Free"

She handed you a parcel small enough to fit in the palms of your hand

The brown paper had a black ribbon tied in bunny ears

To the right a tiny tag with your name

The realisation sprung your head upwards

As your lips parted but no words escaped

Your eyes widen at the empty soapbox

Spiraling, you look up and down the park

But she was gone

Like magic, now so was the soapbox

The pain parcel was still there though

So you're not crazy or dreaming, you thought

Confusion took up residency

But curiosity quickly replaced it

Rushing for dear life you head home

Door locked, handbag down, coat off

The perfectly octagon-shaped parcel sits on the dining table

You went for a walk to clear your head

From the unemployment, the past due bills

But now you have a million and one questions

Sitting down, arms folded

You replay the sequence of events

The seller disappeared in thin air, no! Impossible! She must have run off!

With little hesitation, she pulls the ribbon

Removed the wrapping and her name tag

Everything fell apart

Empty.........

It was empty or so she thought

A small chard glistened from the sunlight

Peaking through the blinds

A mirror, at least a piece of one

She held it, trying to find what was so special

She got a glimpse at her reflection

And time stood still

Something, a force, an energy held her immobile

Face to face, she was staring at her pain

Now to decide, fight or keep running