Just as a story, @ruth-girl, what you post here is well told, emotional, numbing, raw and giving up, all rolled into one. Very well done. I think how the characters act and react are real.

As far as the greater subject goes—mental health—I wonder how many people find themselves, or believe themselves to be, unfeeling, numb to the world, and decide it's something they've done, or can't do, as if they had some kind of conscious control over the situation. Maybe they can. Other times, it might require therapy or medication. Each case can be different and would need to be considered on an individual basis.

I don't know if in my case talking about it would be taboo, as much as it would be to recognize it for what it is, and to what depth. Sometimes things can be made worse through inaction, and other times, through too much action and dwelling on it. Finding the right amount of communication and understanding to help to detect things like this early enough for some kind of intervention would be great, but if the other person hides it well enough, doesn't want to discuss it, doesn't want help, what then?

A great story that is thought provoking with plenty to ponder and use to open our own eyes, to how we're doing and how our loved ones are doing.