fear of loss
The fear of loss is mankind's most refined form of selfish dread, born from the depths of attachment. It ignites most fiercely just before one tumbles from the summit of happiness. Striving to prevent loss, we call forth excessive clinginess and suspicion, replacing love with distance. A delayed reply from a lover can set our anxiety howling like a lone dog in the night. Yet the ultimate irony is that the very fear of losing often becomes the architect of our own loss.