she claimed
she would much rather
feel hurt than to be numb
because at least
there was still a tugging distress
rather than bleak extinction,
and at least she was aware
that she was clearly still
alive

he claimed
he would much rather
feel numb than to be hurt
because at least
he couldn't feel the tribulation
tearing him to pieces from
within,
and at least he was not aware
that he was somehow
indiscriminately
dead