A loyal pest.

I get cold sores. Bet that wasn’t expected now was it. I’ll pause now to give you a moment to feel disgusted. For your information 20-40 % of the population will end up with recurring cold sores, though most people have been exposed to the virus at one point or another (according to webmd.com). Unless your part of the 60-80%, welcome to my world. I’m not sure how it was for everyone else, but I’ve had these bad guys visiting me for as long as I can remember, essentially forever. I remember them in elementary school, and not fully grasping what the hell was burning on my lip. I get them for any number of reasons… sunburned lips, lack of sleep, stress, it’s exactly 45.67 degrees outside, the wind blows west at 12 mph, I mean really anything can awaken my little pals.

Most of the time I just avoid the topic… pretend nothing is there and disguise it with lip gloss. Somedays though, my lip swells so big it looks like I’ve had it injected with oversized marbles. Try explaining that one on presentation day. Um, yeah, that mass on my face, it’s just my lip herpes is acting up… try not to gawk, you’re stares only make it worse. I swear.

Part of me is horribly embarrassed by them, even though I know it’s not my fault and really there isn’t anything that I can do about it. So here, Internet, now you know. No more secrets… at least regarding my lips.