Volcanic Eruption

As I progress toward my expected enlistment in the United States military, over the last seven days I've spent numerous hours learning/relearning academic material in preparation for the PiCAT/CAT-ASVAB/ASVAB. At approximately 8:51 P.M. EST on 11/5/2024, while I was answering various questions from another practice test and listening to Stick Season by Noah Kahan, I got distracted. My mind began to wander; I contemplated the true nature of our complex, long-distance relationship. Still, I tried to resist the cascade of emotions; I always do. However, for whatever reason, this instance was different. The eruption was imminent and my counterefforts were useless. For a brief moment, I finally relinquished my delusional beliefs and accepted the reality of my circumstances. I considered my age, my loneliness, my unrequited feelings, and my likelihood of pairing with a lifelong partner. Instead of adhering to my characteristic principles of apathy and stoicism, like I've done in 99.99% of cases, I was instantly overwhelmed by a surge of despair and involuntarily released over a decade's worth of pent-up heartache. This uncontrollable explosion of human sorrow produced physiological responses: hyperventilation and tears. As the teardrops streamed down my face, I was overcome by intense sadness and shame that I hadn't experienced in years.