Why bare this raw skin to the world? Like the meat of a crab or lobster exposed past peeled back shell. How is this healthy? Can’t I quicken a callous by burning the pink of me with a hot iron rod stoked by… what? The flames of fear? Or the forge of a face smiling and intelligent and unsure too. Ouch. It hurts to feel.
Wow Justin - the fire metaphors are beautiful here - so close the relationship between pain and alchemy. Nicely done.