Tunnel Vision

At the gaping lips of a cave

You stand empty, alone and forsaken.

Like a seductress, pessimism tempts you

Away from the bright lights, from the fresh air.

She has corrupted you, blinded you, made a fool of you.

How could one so smart be so moronic,

To fear the dark, yet take more steps towards the void.

You long for help, but you close your eyes, refusing to wake up.

You seek advice, but you plug your ears, maintaining your pace.

For years, I’ve acclimated to the dimming lights, the weighted air.

Trotting by your side, shouting in your face,

Tugging your arms, pulling you back.

Optimism has kept me afloat.

I’ve always thought I could win,

That I could turn you around,

That we could go back and emerge together.

But optimism is a double-edged sword.

In my frenzy of hope, the accumulating bruises, the exponential exhaustion

Have gone unnoticed.

I’ve awakened, now unfazed by pessimism and

No longer star-struck by optimism.

I am tired. I am done. I am realistic.

With conviction, I let go, and I turn around.

I look for the light, only to see the slightest freckle of white.

Wading through the darkness,

Forever blinded, forever lost,

A fool fades away.

Trudging towards the light,

Freshly awakened, freshly enlightened,

A fortunate fool emerges.