What’s wrong?

Nothing’s wrong.  I’m fine.

You don’t seem fine.

What do you mean?

You seem irritated.

I’m not.  I’m fine.

Okay, if you say so.

(Silence.)

(More silence.)

(Still more silence.)

What?

Jeez, let it go, will you?

(More silence.)

Oh, okay.  I’m irritated.

What’s irritating you?

Hell, I don’t know. 

I’ve felt like this all week.

What are you doing about it?

Doing? Nothing. Ignoring it.

So I gather. 

Do you own a car?

Sure.

You know that red light

on your dashboard?

The one that lights when

my engine overheats?

Yes.  What would you think

if I told you I’d covered my

light with duct tape?

That you’re stupid.

For ignoring the warning,

right?

Right.

Well, irritability is one of

your body’s red lights.

What does it mean?

Something wrong under

 the hood.  Some imbalance.

My point is, don’t tape

over the damn light.

Don’t mask it with denial,

or work…

or food, or alcohol…

or drugs, or tv, or sleep.

Pay attention to yourself.

Look under the hood.

Or what? My engine will

seize? I’ll end up on a lift

somewhere?

You wouldn’t be the first.