suck it up

i give my

neighbor a handful of self-help

books

and psychology

manuals

that i used to read

when i was

going through

the depths of hell.

she's crying when she takes

them from me.

can i stop by later

to tell you what

happened, she says.

i tell her no.

that's not a good idea.

i can't save you. these

books can't save you.

the therapists can't save you either.

forget the priests

and friends too.

all of it can help, but

in the end

you have to suck it up

and grieve.

then go through the long

journey alone,

to heal.