24 steps 38 seconds

A Story by Destinee

it seems so insignificant to you doesn't it?

Paul looked out of the small window of his prison cell, his safe haven— his home. He knew exactly how many steps it would take to reach the mailbox— 24— and how many seconds it would take him if he ran there, grabbed the mail and ran back— 38.

But he couldn’t.

His old mailman understood him and would bring the mail to his door.

But now there is a new mailman who doesn’t understand him, who doesn’t understand what it’s like living with agoraphobia. So all Paul can do is look out the small window of his prison cell, his safe haven—his home— and imagine the 24 steps to the mail box and the 38 seconds of exposure.