Representative of my OCD, The Whisperers warn me of terrible things to come with their rattling mutters and the patter of their four toes. The Whisperers only trust their own eyes to look back at where they have been, so they must rely on their second head to tell them how to go forward. Although The Whisperers invoke fear of the future and shame in my past, there are some whispers that are beneficial to hear and understand. The impending doom that The Whisperers foretell is often based in an insecurity or past experience that needs to be addressed. For example, The Whisperers may hiss “you’re not capable of being in a meaningful romantic relationship because you are unworthy of such love.” While this message is quite unwelcome and somewhat rude, its context reminds me to remain open to new experiences. I press The Whisperers on this point until they reveal that they base their prediction on the pain and dejection that such endeavors have caused me. “The past is the past”, I tell The Whisperers, “and I will learn from it, but I will not let it define me.” To thank The Whisperers for their constant input, I crafted them a house where they can whisper and clatter across the staircase as much as their hearts desire.

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