The Hell of Hay Fever

There is no escape from its clutches

Darren Matthews
The Shortform

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Pollen spores cause my hay fever to feel like hell
Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

Pollen is such a vital part of nature, but I dread its arrival. A summer spent snivelling and sneezing awaits.

Few appreciate how demanding a sneeze can be. Our body attempts to discharge pesky irritants through an internal flush that explodes within our nose. One sneeze won’t do, so several more follow. Soon, effort turns to exhaustion.

Each morning, my eyelids require what feels like surgical intervention, if only to remove the gritty incrustations that have formed overnight. My puffy eyes suggest a significant loss, not a poxy pollen allergy. Even staying inside does little to ease the suffering.

Tissues, not suncream, become your seasonal companion.

The end of summer can’t come quickly enough. Maybe I’m more welcoming of autumn because it signals a time when my sense of smell will embrace nature rather than detest it. That’s the hell of hay fever.

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Darren Matthews
The Shortform

Following my curiosity — which is decision-making — and sharing what I learn along the way