KNEE BRACE PRESS

A place for stories about chronic illness, disability, mental health, and neurodivergence.

Our Disabilities

By

For Elise

I watch you stumble,
Pain
Faltering your stride.
Yet 
I see your grace, ever present, your
Warmth and Light, 
Unbendable,
Even as you curve,
Flinching 
And Cracking,

Beaten but Strong.

You silently witness,
Weakness
Overcoming me totally.
Yet
Your presence bolsters my Strength, and
Together, we stare down my Death,
Unflinching,
Even as my Heart is somehow,
Erratically
And Mechanically,

Beating Still.

I would harvest your
Pain
If only I could.
Yet
I see it’s yours alone so I
Stand witness,

My faith in you
Unbendable,
As our Hearts,
Flinching
And Aching,

Beat in Solidarity.

Contributor

  • A white woman with light brown hair smiling with her mouth closed. The photo is a selfie. Also pictured: a bookcase in the background and a (really cute) brown and black cat.

    April McCloud [she/her] is a 1% bionic human hailing from Rochester, NY. She’s a librarian, educator, and opinionated black belt who worships her cat and hopes to be reincarnated as a red panda. Her CNF work “Unpacking” has been released in The Black Fork Review and her debut novel is forthcoming from Rebel Satori Press.