FIXED: True Stories of OUD

These tales are true,
And can be sad.
FIXTURES in our mind, assuming all bad.
There’s more to their stories,
Than what I can share.
But they will remind us
Why we choose to care.

I’m old and I’m hurting.
Meds stole pain away.
I took all my pills, now insurance won’t pay.
Too tired to work,
No money in play,
I found a needle
To FIX me today.

Back home after serving
My time, six years.
Early release means nothing out here.
Expertise but no job,
No friends, no place.
Out of my cell, I’m still FIXED
Please take me away.

I’m a star, D-1,
Captain of the team.
In a FIX, ‘cause the pros are my lifelong dream.
FIXED on the line,
I got blitzed.
Knee and future demolished,
So I really got FIXED.

I built our life,
In this miniscule town.
A promise broken, and family let down.
At the end of the grind
It’s all I can do.
Too bad for you, kids,
You’re in this FIX too.

What can I do?
What can I say?
The rules have changed, but FIXED here I stay.
Can I look ahead?
Look past today?
Could there be another way?

I trust my doctor,
She has helped me before.
She knows me well, down to my core
What will FIXED look like?
I’m not sure.
But with her help
I can be FIXED, I will soar!