I like this very much. I relate. I imagine many people can. We fight our battles and come out of the fray somewhat damaged and surely scarred. We seek out our place, the place where we can go because there we are protected and where we can remain "Uncrushed."

Like the inevitable nature of life's evolution, matter to matter, flesh to dust, there remains the undefinable hope that humanist spirit will have a final say, that "Where have you gone my child?" is answered, even as senses are drawn to the scorpion and the remaining moment, that split second just before you have the answer. You've written a visually impactful first person examination of what I think the writer knows: this isn't all there is.