Elosy

a blurry image of a person in a subway car

Elosy

n.
the fear of major life changes, even ones you’ve been anticipating for years; the dread of leaving behind the bright and ordinary world you know, stepping out into that liminal space before the next stage of life begins, like the dark and rattling void between adjoining metro cars.

Malagasy lelosy, snail, which is a creature that carries many twists and turns wherever it goes, trying in vain to outrun them. Pronounced “ehl-uh-see.”

Los Vidados

Cover image for the Los Vidados word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Craxis

a tall house of cards

Aftergloom

Cover image for the Aftergloom word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Ne’er-Be-Gone

Cover image for the Ne’er-Be-Gone word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Clockwise

a close-up of flower along with polaroid pictures

Routwash

Cover image for the Routwash word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows