The Unwanted Companion

by J.F.

I call you by many names — nemesis, phantom, phantasm, specter, shadow, enemy, wraith and foe.

You are all of these things.  Out of nowhere you cast your spell upon my body and stop the forward motion of my life.

You take away my power, pleasure, purpose.  You are my constant thorn, my ghastly, ghostly tic douloureux.