Writer's Excerpts

Pain Management

by Michael Redhill

published in TOK: Writing the New Toronto - Book 3

Dennis Hanley had used up three of his four weeks at the institute, a small salmon-coloured building on University Avenue’s hospital row. His Worker’s Comp had paid for the first two weeks, and his parents were paying for the other two. At the institute they didn’t call group therapy “Group” they called it “Conference,” and everyone was supposed to dress in regular day-clothes—there were no robes or gowns to be had at all—although by the third week some people just kept their pajamas on all day.

Dr. Krayman was a young man with a easy-going manner and a huge black mustache. In Conference he said, “Pain is a signal, and a signal is a message that has to be decoded. So let’s some of us describe some of the signals we’re getting from our bodies.”

A guy named Ernst spoke first. “I get a signal from my body that says I’m carrying a heavy weight.”

“All right,” said Dr. Krayman. “And how is that manifested in your body, Ernst.”

“I have pain in my back and legs that won’t go away.” Ernst nodded like this was something shameful.

To read the full piece, purchase TOK: Writing the New Toronto - Book 3