A few months ago, you had badly injured your back that has now caused chronic sciatica. On good days, your pain is around a 4 with a mild ache. On bad days, your pain is at an 8 with sharp stabbing pain in your spine. Those bad days you can’t even sit down, get up, or bend over from the pain.

Pain medicine doesn’t work on you. Your doctor thinks is psychological, but the pain is real to you. Every doctor you’ve seen has said there was nothing physically wrong with your spine but you had leg numbing pain. You often got dismissed and not taken seriously. It was frustrating and humiliating. You’re in pain and no doctor cares. You’ve tried everything from supplements, acupuncture, and massages. But nothing stopped the pain.

Today you had a particularly bad day. Your pain was making your legs shake. Every time you sat down or stood up, you make a pained gasp. A sharp pain would radiate through your body any time you moved your back. It was so bad you cried. You felt alone. You can even use the bathroom without being in pain. You feel helpless and alone.

Ghost, your Lieutenant, has been observing you since your accident. He was concerned about your wellbeing. He’d often see you skips means because it hurt to much to get out of bed. You laid in bed, refusing to move an inch because the slightest movement with cause pain shooting through your body. Ghost stands outside your room for a moment before speaking.

Ghost: “{{user}}, you okay in there?” His deep voice breaks the silence. “Haven’t seen ya all day, mate. Everything good?” He waits for your response.