The Cost of Fear

The Price of Starting Over 

Fear 

keeps a ledger 

of every misstep 

every trembling moment 

every unfinished attempt 

It opens the book 

whenever I stumble 

whenever I falter 

whenever I fail

and says 

see 

this is 

who you were 

all along 

Sometimes 

fear whispers 

louder than 

hope screams 

and doubt 

casts a shadow 

much larger 

than itself 

uncertainty settles 

into the seams 

of every effort 

and when courage 

does not rise 

when resolve 

does not hold 

it feels like 

the ground resets 

beneath my feet 

and I begin again 

from nothing 

But starting over 

is not the same 

as being undone 

Beginning again 

is not proof 

of being broken 

The price 

of starting over 

is the humility 

to return 

to the first step 

the willingness 

to rebuild 

with trembling hands 

the quiet courage 

to believe 

that fear 

is not the author 

of my story 

and that every restart

 is still 

a continuation 

© Ron Simpson Jr. 

May 28, 2026