Headspace

There, it started again. Stress took a deep breath and clutched a sturdy neuron. A particularly nasty jolt made him lose his balance but he saved himself by hanging on to a peripheral neuron just in time. All around him he could see Pity, Anxiety, Fear and Anger in various self rescue modes. Just ten mins he mouthed, if their luck held today. They had made up a song to pass the time. 

Today though seemed somewhat easier, thought Stress. He felt lighter, somehow. Must be muscle development through all that hanging. But then he looked around and realized that everyone looked somewhat deflated. In corporeal terms that is. 

Ok, this was serious. They really needed to assert themselves or they would shrink to the size of a bloody brain cell. He had met some Stresses like that when She went out. Some of her particularly smug friends. The thought of their situation made him blink back sudden tears. 

And down here Joy was becoming increasingly hard to ignore. Look at her getting fatter by the minute. It wasn't that long ago when she was a frail waif they enjoyed trampling over. The moment she spoke out..squish ! They could do that all day. 

But She downloaded this app and started practicing some meditation technique. And Joy flowered. They realized that the first time they squashed her and were thrown off by the impact. And now she rolled about, a big ball of Joy looking so very smug. 

But personally he would keep a watch on Love. He was one dark horse. Always cozying up to everyone. It had been easy to brush him off earlier but these days he seemed to be getting insistent. He said he had an Awakening and really came into his own. It couldnt be more uncomfortable. Warm hugs whenever they met ! And they always left him somewhat breathless like the life had been squeezed out of him. Anger, who had to endure the brunt of his hugs, certainly looked like a shadow of her former self. 

Stress panicked. When the dreaded ten mins were over and the closing chorus sung (Dont Stress, Dont Fear, Hold Tight, My Dear). nice touch that, they woke up Sloth who was hinding inside a capillary. 

"Get a move on !

 Assert yourself ! 

We cant be having this everyday ! 

Or we will soon be reduced to surviving on scraps." 

 Sloth was looking at Sorrow. "She knows", he mumbled. 

"She has started running", said Sorrow quietly, while the others looked on in Horror. He is fading fast.