Pandora's Box

Anxiety Explained

     

You hesitate as you stare up at the house.

 

 

For some reason, you feel ... off, tonight.

 

 

Your footsteps are slow as you walk the hallway. 

 

 

Your hand hesitates before turning the knob.

 

 

There is a strange edge to the music tonight.  You frown as you look around.

 

 

As you walk over to where Ego sits waiting for you, you see something unusual.

 

 

"Now there is a couple I never thought I would see together. " You mutter as you sit down next to him.

 

 

He follows your gaze and a sad smile crosses his face.  "They are paired together more often than you would believe."

 

 

You watch as Fear puts his arm around Self-Esteem and holds her close for a moment.  As they walk closer to where you sit, Concern and Anger dance by, laughing in delight.

 

 

You smile brightly up at Self-Esteem.  "How are you doing tonight?"

 

 

Self-Esteem smiles shakily at you and Nervousness touches her shoulder as he dances by.  Before she can say anything, a small boy races through the dancers and throws himself at Self-Esteem.  She gasps and looks at Fear before reaching down to pick the boy up. 

 

 

Anxiety wraps his arms around Self-Esteem's neck and squeezes tight as he turns to look at you solemnly.  Fear reaches out to stroke the young boy's hair and Self-Esteem suddenly seems exhausted.  Without a word, she turns and walks to the far side of the ballroom, holding the boy close. 

 

 

The dancers swirl around them, including them in their performance.  Suddenly, one of the dancers, Uneasiness, grabs Self-Esteem by the waist and as Anxiety looks on, laughing, he dances a quick circle with her.  Anxiety calls out to the others, "More! More!"

 

 

Fear turns to you and says, apologetically, "He's still young, he doesn't know better. "

 

 

 

Then Distress, steps in and they dance another circle.  One by one, the others take their turn, spinning and twirling the two.  Insecurity, Vulnerability, Frustration, Humiliation, Embarrassment and finally Hysteria.  As each one takes Self-Esteem's hand, Anxiety seems to grow bigger and older.