Fragile
The worst sensation between feeling and numbness is the immeasurable pain between the two stages. But when it comes down to it, it certainly beats the creaking sound and feeling of my foot whenever I flex it or walk. I walked a lot at Brown, but I don’t think I’ve walked as much at Brown as I have in these past few weeks in NYC. The amount of walking had begun to show its effects on my foot.
A little over a week ago, I left my Lower East Side apartment because I had a terrible encounter with a waterbug/American cockroach (see: the many letters to the creepy crawlies below). Since I refused to go home, I walked more than I could ever imagine. I got sores up and down my feet. I searched vigilantly for coffee shops, bookstores, anywhere where I could sit for extended periods of time without feeling awkward or noticed.
I didn’t think there would be lasting effects, but now what I believe is the tendon that connects my shin to my toes (extensor tendon) is inflamed and does the creaking sound so symptomatic of tendonitis. I tape my foot up but it doesn’t work as well as I’d hope at stabilizing the foot.
I wouldn’t ever have conceived that walking too much could hurt me so badly. It seems to be a little reminder of how, even as young adults, we are still so fragile and mortal. I can’t even take my feet for granted.