The Lonely

Often your defenses against pain are what end up bringing you pain.

I go to the lonely and ask him

"What do you fear?"

"Come close and I'll whisper in your ear..."

I shuffle my feet and draw near

"I fear that which causes me pain."

"What kind of pain?"

"The kind that comes from humiliation."

"Why?" my brow creased in concentration

"Because when I am humiliated I hate myself"

I lean back in confusion

"Why?"

"Because on the inside, I cry"

"Why?"

"Because when I am humiliated, others dislike me

and then I have no friends and I become lonely"

"But are you not lonely now?"

Now it's his turn to crease his brow

"Yes, I must confess"

"Why?"

"Because I shut myself away for protection"

"Protection from what?" is my question

"Protection from humiliation"

Reviews

[The They]

When fear of negative emotions guides actions it leads right back to more negative emotions. This shows just how much happiness is brought about through maintaining a state of mind rather than a set of circumstances in the world (money, lack of humiliation etc.). When we fear for our own state of mind, we withdrawal from the world and our own existence and turn this fear into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Nice write!

[Scarlett Ledbury]

I loved the repetitiveness of the mention of emotions. I thought your words embodied the idea of humiliation and other elements contributing to a kind of sadness that leads to internal destruction was very well done. Nice job!

[Alyssa C.]

I love it. I can totally relate...

[lee von cleef]

Mental tennis, pulled the thought out of the camouflage ,ah, "Don't crease your brow"

[Lily Mae]

I enjoyed this.. the word play back and forth made the story perfect.. The message is very powerful too..xo

[Andrea]

this is really cool. I like the point you make. well done