At times it feels like the world is cracked, as if there’s hairline fracture running from top to bottom and when the world is rung like a bell, the sound scatters, empties out and is lost. I wonder if only I hear it because of the same crack which runs right through me or if, every being is a damaged container pretending to be whole.

Pain is a great listener. When I’m in pain I view the world more clearly. I experience every noise and I’m acutely aware of each second of my life. Is this painful? Awareness. No, but the futility of hearing---that is the most painful sound.