No need to worry, said the doctor

Medication will stop the degeneration

You’ll be fine

She meant to be encouraging

It might even be true

But all the kind words

In the whole world

Won’t stop the pain

It might not get any worse

But it won’t get better

Another disability

Another aspect of defective genetics

Not to mention

Expensive medicine

And insufficient income

So, you’ll forgive me, doctor

If I do worry

If I am unhappy

If I don’t know what to do

You’ll forgive me

Because I have to live

Inside this crumbling body

Disintegrating before its time

You’ll forgive me,

If I am afraid for the future

Because every day I wonder

What’s coming next?