Years ago you found a shiny new bicycle

And as you rode it, through good and bad,

Its thrill eventually wore off, and the tires thinned.

One day, bored and careless, you fell off.

The wound you received hurt‑‑more so as the days wore on.

It festered and the infection spread throughout your body.

Relief was nowhere to be found.

It's years later now and you still hurt.

You're still reaching out for relief.

With eyes closed, you try many brands of the same medicine

Only to find‑‑when you do look‑‑the packages different.

But, you nod without understanding, ingredients are the same.

You make another trip to the store for the usual,

Yet, in confusion, you hesitate at the counter.

This time all the packages seem identical

While the ingredients are now dangerously different.

They all promise: SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.

Go ahead.  Try something new.

Why not? you ask yourself.  But you can't.

You've become too comfortable in your ache

And you're afraid of a sudden, feel‑good kind of life.

You don't really want to keep the ever‑present torment

But you can't bear to let it go.

You shake your head, trying to clear it, and say,

"Not right now.  Maybe I'll buy it next time."