How do you explain a condition that can’t be seen?
With other trauma you can strip back your sleeves and say these are my scars.
When trauma happens early, before speech, before memory, what do you say?
How do you describe to people the way a glance or a laugh can curl you into a ball, hyperventilating, clutching at your ankles, knees pressed to your lips to stifle the cries.
How do you convey that the world is dangerous?
Not just in crime and betrayal, but love and touch and trust. The world comes to you wrapped in razor wire.