On Addition (An Extended Metaphor)

It might make sense to assume that hurts add upon themselves, but this is not a correct assumption. Hurts do not add, instead they multiply. And then, once revisited after a period of supposed peace, they square against each other time and time again. And again. And again…
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Consider hurts akin to water.

What was initially a puddle you were standing in suddenly becomes the vast ocean you find yourself drowning in. Your initial reaction is to fight it: you must work your way to the surface! A kick here, then another, once more! On your way up you are dropped an oxygen tank in an attempt to help sustain you. With this new supply of fresh air you are lulled into a deceptive comfort, no longer in fear of drowning, and the surface begins to look closer than ever. You start to relax, not kicking quite as hard as you once were, blissfully sustained by the oxygen steadily flowing into your lungs. You begin to feel as if you can put your arms back and float to the surface on your own if you just let this current take you there. After all, you are tired, who is there to prevent you from taking a little nap on the way up; the sunlight shimmering radiantly through the lazy waves that mark your goal seem so close…

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Pain. Deep, intense pain. Pain mixed with biting cold. Where is it coming from? Everything is fuzzy, where is that light you saw just minutes before? Why is this happening? And this pressure! You don’t understand, things seemed to be going so well, what happened that caused this? You can’t do anything; you are being sucked down faster and harder than you can possibly hope to kick. You’re getting tired…

No! You must make it to the top! You must break free!

But you are tired, so very tired. You lack the energy to resist this constant freefall. Maybe if you took a nap you would have some strength to fight…

What? Is this all the rest you get? Your kicks still don’t work, why will they not work? So much pain! Your head feels like it will implode, will this pressure never end? You must give one last kick; one last attempt to reach the surface. Just one more kick, and another! Only once more…

But it’s no use. Everything is clear now, so very clear. Nothing you can do now will matter. Too bad you weren’t given another oxygen tank. Too bad you didn’t step out of that puddle when you had the chance. All you can do now is accept your destiny… welcome, sweet Release…