Tactility

Things are not as simple and harmless as they seem to be. Chew this:


Bedsores, more properly known as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers, are lesions caused by many factors such as: unrelieved pressure; friction; humidity; shearing forces; temperature; age; continence and medication; to any part of the body, especially portions over bony or cartilaginous areas such as sacrum, elbows, knees, ankles etc. Although completely treatable if found early, without medical attention, bedsores can become life-threatening, and indeed fatal.


It is a scary ailment. Google it to find images titled "bedsores" and you will actually understand why is it scary, given that you have never put your eye on a bedsore. All the causing factors stated above are in comity with one of the five ruling senses: Touch. A simple touch, with something as comforting and personal as your own mattress, when prolonged and uninterrupted, can lead to terrifying painful lesions beginning from the top layer of your skin and ending in your bones.

Moving from the tangible realms of human body to the metaphysical, we figure that the concept of protracted touch is equally threatening to the metaphysical equivalent of body (call it soul, sentiments, heart, mind whatever). Think about it, lets say you have this want, more a need, to remain connected to another "being" and you keep resting on their being-ness as and when you want to; just like you, inevitably, go back to bed every night. Keep doing it for long and you will end up with lesions that run deeper than any stupid bedsore. The only thing that would make it different from a real bedsore is that your mattress here, the person you are dependent on, would also have these lesions.

The idea seems far fetched, but isn't it something that really happens? An old acquaintance whom you always told to keep in touch and who actually just kept in touch, dropping in a greeting every now and then, suddenly comes up and tells you that you are required. What does that feel like? That is an abrasion. Now this abrasion, if continues for a long time, would lead to what? A bedsore. An irritation that just doesn't seem to go away. Like a constant itch that you cannot stop scratching and the more you scratch, the worse it gets. This is just one example, the first one that came to my head. There are many more, mostly circumstantial and pertaining to bidding goodbyes and getting confused between friends and acquaintances.

So next time, be careful when you ask people to "Stay/Keep in Touch". It isn't necessary. Especially if it is just customary. For what I have learnt in all these years just tells me that the people who genuinely connect with you, maintain that without ever having to resort to communicating in the real world. You may not talk to them for ages and you will not see even the tiniest of that link breaking down. They won't infringe on your hospitality, they won't take advantage of you and they will always like/love you. They don't need to "Stay in touch" to be friends with you. Its a two way thing, you do the same with them. They exist for you and you for them. Look out for such people for they are rare. Ironic it may be, but stick with them.

And as for parting greetings, I like "See You" much better than "Stay/Keep in touch". Eye contact can only cause conjunctivitis which is not really as fatal as bedsores.