The Complete Loss of Hope

Many people have used despair to describe a temporary lull in their sails but spring back with the next gust of wind, learning from experience and telling themselves they’ll never make that mistake again.
No.
True despair, the kind of soul harrowing, purpose erasing, ultimate defeat, is a state best felt by the childless parent.
And the ocean surrounds, fading into the horizon,
And the winds no longer blow,
And beasts circle below the deep dark blue.