BC 3

After a two week hiatus from my trench I thought it was finally safe. But then but then....the horror.

Within moments my ankles became inflamed. White and red welts began to protrude out. Then there was the itching and the swelling. By Friday afternoon I was limping everywhere with my skin on fire. My skin lobster red and pulsing. Each time my sock rubbed against my skin it was agony.

I found some relief in sandals Friday night but then on Saturday came the hurt.

I hopped out of bed (since my bed it three mattress high) and my ankles exploded. I shifted to one only to find the other had betrayed me. Hobbling, I managed to utter the words, "crutches" to my dad before I collapsed on the nearest chair.

The weekend was spent trapped inside the house sitting, icing, grimacing and hopping around. I now sit here at home on a Monday with my right ankle bruised. The left looks like a swollen dumpling, a maroon and red dumpling not surrounded by a warm delicious broth.

I curse the enemy. A pox! A pox I say.