Surrender

Empty hollowness.
My heart is hardened
by despair and loneliness.
I am hardened out of necessity,
A defense to facilitate survival.
but I suppose also by choice,

my choice.

If I shell myself from the world,
I cannot get any new wounds.
Already they fester and burn,
infection spreading
faster than I can dress them.
It's a battle against anger and hurt.

I am losing.

Connection to others is impossible
I can't understand them.
We cannot understand each other.
We are worlds away
With no bridge to cover the crossing.
I don't know how to reach them.
I don't know if I even can.

I cannot.