Sometimes I can’t help thinking how it would be nice
to have a fast-forward button
to speed us through a pain we already know
and don’t need to experience twice
because we’ve already learned the lesson
Like heartache, for instance
it will pass, they tell you
you’ll be fine in a year or so
and it’s true
Fast-forward to that point
Same with grief
a loved one’s death
or a surgery
or a broken limb
or just a nasty cold
anything you can safely say you will recover from, given time
If we could save that time
store it somewhere, for something else
something good
then maybe
maybe
we might be more generous with our joy.
Angelika Rust 