Cyclic Respite
Although they had no home in their heart, the traveler always found themself seeking out a library wherever they went. There was nothing quite like delving into a book and momentarily being whisked into another's psyche. Whenever he was immersed in another writer's sorrows, the weight of his problems suddenly felt immensely miniscule in comparison to the breadth of other potential rabbit holes.
However, there was no easing this dull ache beneath his ribs. It gradually snaked around his chest and refused to let go. The waxing pain was just the tip of iceberg in his internal pandemonium. It was merely a testament to the trials and tribulations he had undergone.
And sometimes, the stories hit too close to home and evoked hot, stinging tears. How many characters had served as a foil and displayed struggles that mirrored his turmoil was beyond him.
Though each character differed, they all struck a chord within the vagrant.
After all, pain is a universal burden everyone is forced to heave.