(no subject)

[captaincocksure]

[Jim moves up to the podium like a man who wears authority well: confident strides, straight back, a clear mission. For a moment it might seem the piazza is in for some rousing speech or recruiting presentation.

But when he turns to face the assembled, there's a seriousness to his expression. A slight drooping of those squared shoulders, as if burdened.]

How do you move on from loss?

Comments

[peratic]

You don't. Those are now fixed points in whoever is left behind. They learn to cope the same way they learn to cope with missing limbs and chronic pain. Like how water learns to go around new stones in a river.

[ You, whoever, they. Her tone is empathetic, anyway, a little quieter than usual. ]

Healing is a natural thing, if that helps. It happens of its own accord, as long as it isn't disrupted.

[captaincocksure]

[He nods, quiet, thoughtful. Taking that all in. Sitting with it for a few moments.]

What would disrupt healing?

[peratic]

Well, the same things that might aggravate a physical injury. And we all have our little self-destructive behaviors.

[captaincocksure]

Some of us more than most.

...Aggravating the injury. So, what: picking at the scab? Overextending yourself?

[peratic]

Both. Whichever a given individual is most inclined toward.

[captaincocksure]

I'm kind of an overachiever sometimes.

[ ...Jim you're probably not using that word correctly. ]