Here I lie inside, peering painlessly through pane-glass window at the world of trees and paths, signs and pavement . . . and the cardinal’s and robin’s nests.

I am, by nature itself, an outlier to the virtual sights and sounds of the iMac, phones, microwave, iPads, and ringtones of “messages” to and from other insiders.

I am an outlier, trained to lie to myself, peering in pain through pane-glass virtual Windows in search of the world outside my window.

• Gordon C. Stewart, Chaska, MN, April 7, 2017. Written in reply to The Daily Prompt invitation to write a post on the word ‘outlier’.