I Used the Bigger Word

Dear Delyara, Not “busy.” Not “stressed.” Not “a bit off.” The bigger word. The truer one. I said it out loud. And the relief was immediate, even though the reality behind the word was not pleasant. Because once I stopped reducing what I was feeling into something socially easy, the loneliness around it changed shape. The room changed shape. The care changed shape. That is what I’m learning now: the right word can be a door. The wrong one can be a wall. This week, I chose the door.