Crutch Pledge

“I’ll be there so you can lean upon me,

I’ll help you to forget your days of splendour,

And I’ll lift the burden from your weary limbs,

So that I am all you need or want.”

“I found my way into your field of desire when you could not cope. I offered you my services when they seemed most needed. Once you had a hold of me, you could not let me go, and I felt wanted and needed, so needed.

I knew then that we were inseparable, that you would rather die than be without me. I made sure I never let you down; I helped you forget the failure, pain, trauma, heartache and loneliness.

And I became your only friend.

In those dark days, I diminished all your needs. No, I supplanted them, leaving only the one crucial need – for me!

I did not care about your beauty, so you no longer needed to take care of yourself. I did not care about your feelings, so you no longer needed to make an effort with friends or family. I did not care about your health, so you no longer needed to eat. And with me, you no longer needed to earn a living because I did not care about dignity.

You did not want to take responsibility for your life . . . your pain . . . your emotions . . . your body . . . your guilt and your despair.

So,

I made it simple.

I made it easy.

You knew where you stood with me.

You knew that I was not complicated.

You knew that this was a one-way street and

I would always be at your service.

I helped you to forget all of them

and you knew . . .”