de·his·cence
/dəˈhisns/
noun
Though there isn’t just one word to describe 2020, we found one that fits. “Dehiscence” means the splitting or bursting open of a wound. Medically, dehiscence is caused when there is poor healing of a wound or when there is an untreated, underlying infection. Wound dehiscence involves the wound reopening partially or completely often along the seams of sutures. Put another way, it’s when a stitched-up wound reopens to create a new wound.
Intentional dehiscence becomes necessary when a sutured wound becomes infected. Thus, the wound must be surgically reopened to remove damaged tissue—allowing the new wound to become the catalyst for the healing of the old wound. Both wounds must be treated and cared for in order for the tissue to move effectively through the healing process.
This seems a fitting metaphor for 2020.
Anosmia/Ageusia by The Folio Conspiracy (collective piece created by the Folio staff)
