it’s all in only us

the setting:

This piece was written for Fonema Consort.

the story:

When tragedy strikes in a person’s life, the rest of the world goes on. There is an incessant ring in the fabric of the air invincible to any individual’s inside story.

The hit happens as an invisible explosion. Cut off from everything. A gunshot-like trigger within the confines of the victim’s mind sparks the escalating white noise symphony of cluttered buzz silent to the surrounding world. This still, mute drone perpetually hangs in the air when it strikes; its bulletproof vibration doesn’t quiver even slightly. Like yelling underwater. Looking around frantically, only to find the rest is in their own worlds a million mental miles away. Others can empathize, but not truly realize. The rest continues at its unforgiving fixed speed. Hyper-awareness of every subtle stimuli stings. Tense wisps of breath buy ticking time for what’s about to surge. It’s isolating, strangling, unifying. It’s all in only us.

Text: Annie Nikunen