Painful Distractions

I'm writing this in pain. Yesterday I wore heels with a pointed toe. Today (Thursday) I switched to heavy, laced shoes. Somewhere between yesterday and today, I irritated a toe that I had stumped a while ago. It was hurting while I was working this afternoon, and foolishly I kept flexing my foot in the heavy shoe and pushing my toe downward against the floor. I think I might have sprained my arch -- if that is possible. I'm back at the computer after trying an Epsom salt soak. I'm hoping for the best because I've got a busy day tomorrow and being able to walk without limping would be helpful.

But no injured foot should go wasted. To distract myself, I've been thinking about how a low-grade nagging pain can be incredibly distracting. And irritating.Maybe I'll give one of my characters in the book I'm working on a toothache with no time to visit a dentist. But if the pain gets bad enough he'll have to deal with it. The book is set in 1939, so I'm going to have to do some research on dental surgery.

Or maybe the distraction is an allergy attack. The kind that leaves one with watery eyes and a runny nose. And makes it impossible to look composed or attractive. I could give this one to my female character as she is trying to prove to the male protagonist that she is up to the challenge. Wiping away tears when you're arguing your case doesn't work well.

 Anyway, it's late, and I have an early morning. Tomorrow I'll think some more about how to make creative use of my pain. Tonight, it just hurts. Maybe an injured foot is the way to go. That would certainly slow my protagonist down. But it is a bit of a cliche. Better a toothache. I think definitely a toothache.

And maybe it's my bad guy who should have the toothache. That would humanize him.

Off to take some aspirin and get to bed.