Have you ever seen pain?

Have you ever seen pain?

I'm not talking about the sight of a child who skinned their knee,
Or the empathy felt with someone struggling from illness.

I'm talking about the stabbing edges that appear on the smoothest objects,
Or the heaviness perceived at the sight of a feather.
I'm talking about the blood-red sheen that permeates even the prettiest of sights.

I've seen pain.

I've looked away from the photos that ignited heartache.
I've drowned in the darkness of grief from love that I've lost.
I'd even close my eyes in anticipation for a seemingly destined gloom.

But, I opened my eyes.
And I forced myself to see through the pain.

And then, the heaviness lifted like a kite in the wind,
And the edges melted like an ice cube in the sun.
Soon, the redness transformed into the most brilliant rainbow!

And since I know what it's like to truly see pain,
I know I can say I've truly seen beauty.