On the Days That Hurt [a poem]

On the days that hurt—
when the body speaks in softened ache,
and each breath arrives
like a delicate task performed in shadow—
let this be enough.

Let it be enough
that you woke to the turning of light,
even if it did not reach you.
Let it be enough
that you stayed,
though the hours unfolded slowly,
without welcome or ease.