Every day it was the same thing. Voices, visions, and unusual things over all plagued her. Wool felt like sandpaper to her. Polyester was stiff and itchy. She could only drink punch if it was too strong for a normal person. She hated sweet tea and preferred the more subtle traditional tea, keeping warm unless it was green tea, then it was slightly iced. A whisper sounded like a shriek more often than she cared to admit. A normal voice was hard to understand sometimes, especially when others are talking. Her focus was everywhere.
Over the years she learned to make do. She learned what would trigger her to panic or have a sensory overload. She found ways to cope and hide it so she wouldn't draw attention. Every day she wore scarves as a security blanket. Her friends were always shocked by the amount, a whole chest full. They were also surprised by the softness.
She also loved the rain and water. When her mother asked her why she only smiled a sad smile and gave a quiet answer. "It is the only time I feel at peace and my senses aren't under attack." That was the only time she shared was her curse did to her. She knew that Sensory Processing Disorder affects everyone differently and only one in twenty people have it so she never bothered to tell anyone. She also knew that after childhood, having something like this and it's effects on a person is forgotten. It is only talked about in children and forgotten when the child grows. She knew no one would understand.
Her name was Skylar and this reality was hers. Fighting this inner war alone had made her bitter. With a father that disregarded her for being a female and not joining the military who never bothered to understand and a disabled mother that didn't need the added stress, she learned to stand without her parents. With a past full of betrayal and pain she learned to stand alone. This was the hell she lived with everyday but she dare not complain.
Someone always has it worse and no one would understand anyway.