[Thinhyandoiel]

I found I have recently (just) come up with a solid example for my answer. One hour ago my parents started another argument, and as arguments go, there were words said that I could have lived without. Shortly after the fight began, I found that I was suddenly in the basement, where I am right now, with The Two Towers in my hand. I began to read, and found myself laughing over Legolas and Gimli's constant quarreling, in particular Helm's Deep, which was what I wished my parents would be more like. Reality, however, tells me that will never happen. But for that space of 45 minutes the shouts and swearing, the banging and slamming of doors was gone. I can tell now they have gone into that silent treatment parent are wont to give eachother after becoming so infuriated that words will not serve. But, for the majority of that time I did not hear the worst part of it. The last 15 minutes was spent reading over my own fantasy work, and losing myself again in my own characters. It is a pleasant reprieve, I must say, from what I normally would hear. Listening to them fight I feel torment and fear, often I find myself just sitting in a dark corner staring at nothing, silent and angry. This was my first experience of using Tolkien in particular as a reprieve, and escape if you will, from a personal hell. I must admit it feels much better than what I had been accustomed to.