We feel pain, burning, tickles, comfort, and pleasure in our bodies because our nervous system branches out through every part of us. Similarly, our minds experience sorrow, anguish, melancholy, joy, and delight. Surely, the mind must also have its own nervous system, though as invisible as the mind itself. In this book, I’ve attempted to explain the sensations of this mental nervous system, not just through words but through the rhythm of those words.

In a democratic land, the reins that bind us are few. We move through life as we wish, engaging with others on our own terms—sometimes with sincerity, other times with cleverness. In the constant exchange of life’s give and take, we occasionally triumph, only to be outwitted at other turns. Victories that once filled us with pride often reveal themselves as mere illusions of success, veiled defeats. At moments, it feels like life itself is pulling the strings, deceiving us. Especially in the wake of failure, we lean into our right to express freely, seeking comfort in this liberty, hoping it lightens our desolation.