LJI: Literary Prize Fight, Round 1: "It's Hard to Beat a Person who Never Gives Up"

[copyright1983]

Outfoxed

"A fox knows many things, but a hedgehog knows one important thing" --Archilochus

Given the choice of monsters to fight, I'd rather face down a hedgehog any day.

Sure, it'd be tough--if the hedgehog is anything like the most famous one in video game history, I'm gonna have a hard time even catching him, let alone getting all his rings. But the fact that the hedgehog only has one strategy means it can, in theory, be neutralized and attacked from a different angle.

The fox, though? That's another matter entirely. They can attack from a variety of angles, they know what you're going to do before you know it, and it always feels like they're one step ahead of you.

*****

Loneliness is one hell of a fox.

Surround yourself with awesome friends, sharing an awesome experience? Loneliness will make you wish you had someone special to enjoy the moment with.

Develop a deep connection with a really special friend? Loneliness reminds you that it can never be the romance you want it to be.

Throw yourself into self-improvement? Loneliness says you'll never be good enough for anyone.

Expend all your energy at work? Loneliness reminds you that you've got nobody with whom to recharge yourself.

Self-isolation, self-reflection, losing oneself in other pleasures...none of these strategies work. Loneliness always has a counter. No matter the cards you hold, loneliness always seems to have a better hand.

But loneliness is a bluffer. It doesn't hold all the cards. And someday, I'll find myself the true queen of hearts.

Does that make me a hopeless romantic? Possibly. But given all it takes to keep putting myself out there, hope's all I've got.

I'm not giving up. Even the fox can be beaten if the hedgehog is persistent enough.

Comments

[megatronix]

Oh man, that kind of loneliness is more like depression or anxiety. I dunno, they both kind of hand in hand, it's hard for me to separate them sometimes! But that never good enough rut is a tough one to be in. I've been there myself. Take good care and never give up, and always look for ways to heal and build yourself up. You're a whole person, awesome all on your own, no matter what friends or romances are or aren't around. <3

I really like the use of the hedgehog and fox references, too, and the line about Sonic made me laugh out loud. Well done!

[copyright1983]

I know. I'm a good person. I just want so badly to be good *to* and *for* someone else.

Thanks for reading!