Fear of Contagion

The world is full of danger. Door handles, banknotes, handrails, other people's breath — everything can contaminate you. A letter that sat too long in the mailbox. A towel that briefly touched the floor. A slice of bread someone else touched. Your mind knows most of this is harmless. Your nervous system does not. It sounds the alarm the moment you move near anything that might be contaminated, and it doesn't release you until you've washed, disinfected, showered, scrubbed — sometimes until your skin cracks.