Pain.

Pain is a strange phenomenon.

Everyone in the world feels pain. Unless they are one of those rare people who don't feel anything at all. But besides those rare few, everyone feels pain bother emotional and physical. But I'm not talking about the emotional type of pain right now. I'm talking about the physical.

There are levels of pain.

I'll show you.

The first level is basic pain. Everyone has know the pain of a stubbed toe, headache, or stomachache. When someone tells you they have one of these three pains you not only can sympathize but you can empathize because you understand that type of pain, you've felt it.

The second level is a less common pain. The next level is not as common, it's a sprained ankle, sprained wrist, broken arm, or leg. Common enough injuries but not completely universal. Still people can empathize.

The third level is specific pain. This level is the level of more rare and specialized pains. The ones sports players face and ones that only other sports players can understand fully.

From here the lists get narrower and narrower.

You want to know the strange part?

Doesn't matter if you say no, I'm going to write it out anyways.

Here is it. I could tell you about the pain that lives in the narrowest levels. I could tell you it feels like every nerve ending is exploding.

I could tell you it's like a mesh cage lives embedded in your limbs and that cage is on fire.

I could tell you it's like your skin is shrinking and your bones are trying to tear themselves from your body.

I could tell you that and two things would happen.

One, you'd feel sympathy at the vivid details and the thought of that. But you wouldn't be able to feel that pain. You wouldn't be able to even imagine feeling that type of pain. Most can't.

Two, the second thing to happen would be the creation of an invisible barrier between us.

On your side, your reality is that pain is temporary. It comes. It's dealt with. It goes.

On my side is the reality that pain is never-ending. It's a constant companion. It's a second skin. It's a cellular invasion where surrender isn't an option.

And so our realities, our worlds crack apart a fraction.

Because I live in a reality you will never fully connect with.

This is the true strangeness of this pain. This is something people don't talk about or understand.

It is the worst thing about pain.

This pain

It makes you...

It makes me feel so so alone.

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Oh poppies! That was... something!

Jeez! What happened to this book being light hearted! I mean we got a pretend male love interest, I thought that meant it would be all fluffy feathers and snuggle stuffies! Clearly I was wrong.

I am curious though what your take on this is. 💬💭🗯🤔

What is the worst injury you've faced?

Eh, I've had too many to take the time and write them down. But just imagine me like Captain America, extremely hot and buff- ha just kidding. I meant more like when I fall down I get back up. (Or is that more along the lines of Batman?)

Except for the instances in which I can't get back up and instead lay down because that's comfortable and better. In those cases I'm not like Captain America or Batman. I'm more like a normal, average human being.

Which, nothing wrong with that, we all are that at some point in our lives. Except for the people who are aliens, I don't think they would call themselves human but we accept them for whatever life form identity that they give themselves.

Okay, now that my author's note has surpassed my chapter in length, let's move along.

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