Darkness is interrupted by a feeling, dull, low but there. This sensation grows pulling me slowly from the void. It intensifies and my body begins to stir. This is not something new, we have experienced this before. The feeling is growing, encompassing, taking over our thoughts. The void quickly fades to light. Like a drowning animal being wrenched from the ocean, oxygen fills our lungs and reality is snapped back into focus. The sensation is gone, replaced by intense pain. This traitorous body is doing it again, why now? I fight mentally but, physically it overpowers me. I try everything I have learned over the years to no avail. It doesn’t take long before my complete surrender. I assume the position hoping for some respite. It has succeeded to bring me to my knees. Yet it still persists, determined to finish what it started, no quarter. My last hope is to beg for mercy, please, please make it stop. I sob and moan in agony, desperate to be freed from this place. Please make it go away please stop it I hear myself beg. My voice broken as the pain intensifies, all I can bring to bear is ‘please’ over and over again. A small but firm voice answers my plea ‘No, deal with it’. ‘Yes Miss, thank you’ I squeak.