Words Seem Out Of Place

I love horror movies—especially slashers—partly because, through their depictions of terrifying boogeymen, they reflect back my own fears and anxieties. Cinematic horror makes these personal horrors seem a bit less scary, and sometimes even more manageable. It's as if seeing someone experience stress, trauma, grief, or loss reminds me that we all walk that path at certain points in our lives. I am not alone. And that's important, because I feel alone. A lot. Always have. I'm an introvert/INFJ, an only child, and too easily susceptible to stress—three strikes against me in a world that prizes extroverted traits like confidence and competence. So when life starts to pile the garbage high and deep, I have a tendency to retreat. Into myself. Away from others. But still I have this need to reach out, to connect with people who make me feel safe and loved and worthwhile. So I never fully retreat. I make an effort to connect with someone special to me, to help myself, to pr...