Almost everyone has had the experience.

Feeling the wiggle of a tooth with the tongue.

Suddenly teeth are falling out.

Raining down like loose gravel pebbles left to pick up off the lap.

A distressing dream.

A common theme.

***

What shapes the pattern?

It could be the common history of losing teeth.

It could be the anxiety of the cost of dental work.

It could be the shame of deformity.

The last could be close to on the mark.

But I think it is something entirely different in part.

***

It is the fear of loss made manifest.

The loss of ability.

The loss of a common physical trait.

A part of oneself gone that can never be healed naturally.

Escalated fear channeled into reasonable simulation.

No matter how improbable an equation.