Have you ever been so helpless that people—strangers—ran up to you gasping Oh my God! Oh my God! and tried to tend to you as best they could, fumbling with your shirt maybe, trying to lift you by the elbow, grasping you and losing you, lunging at you again, then darting away for some reason, fear or despair or something else, something like respect? Have you been flailing like an animal on the floor, or on the sidewalk, or in the middle of the street? Have you seen the look in other peoples’ eyes when they look into yours, really look, for the first time—the first time anyone has really seen you? The first time you’ve seen them? Have you?

I have not.