"Afraid" is one of those words that has a meaning that outweighs its use. The sense of 'fear', of being 'afraid' are in most cases just words that people use in a context of everyday. The ultimate meanings diminished by overuse and misunderstanding.
Like, "I was afraid I'd miss the bus." In the grand scheme of things, I'm not sure that missing the bus really garners - or deserves - a sense of fear.
But I think this is o.k. I think that using big words for little meanings can be acceptable. Especially in this case, with this word - this sentiment. Because if you think about fear, if you think about what fear really is, what being afraid feels like, it's not pretty.
It's this sinking feeling in your gut that makes you want to wretch. It's a nagging in the back of your mind that doesn't go away, no matter how suggestively optimistic the voice in your head is. Being afraid is when that voice of reason has no voice; when tears well in your eyes, due to the omniscient sense of doom. The ache in your heart pings and you lose sight of where the fear ends and sadness overwhelms. Logic is lost and up is down. When you feel like no matter what happens, what steps you take, a terrible fate waits just around the corner and there is absolutely nothing you can do.
Fear is more than a shitty feeling, it goes beyond words and is an oppressive feeling of loss, love, doom, shame and uncertainty all bundled in to one.
And so, if using the word in the every day diminishes that feeling in any way; or is played down by the over use, then really, maybe that is more than o.k. If the worst thing in a day is the fear of being late to work, maybe, I'll try to be late for work.
