switch.

switch  (swɪtʃ)
— n
1.	a mechanical, electrical, electronic, or optical device for opening or closing a circuit or for diverting energy from one part of a circuit to another
2.	a swift and usually sudden shift or change
3.	an exchange or swap
4.	a flexible rod or twig, used esp for punishment
5.	the sharp movement or blow of such an instrument
6.	a tress of false hair used to give added length or bulk to a woman's own hairstyle
7.	the tassel-like tip of the tail of cattle and certain other animals
8.	any of various card games in which the suit is changed during play

when i was younger, i used to wonder why it took some time for a light to be turned on after the switch was flicked, and why it would turn off immediately as the switch was flicked again. i used to think that the light would flicker itself off, much like how it flickered itself on.

now that i am older and slightly wiser (i hope, haha) i know the reason behind this.

i was watching fringe and thinking (about things unrelated to the episode i was watching, and to fringe) about how the concept on switches could also be applied to human relationships. it is always much harder to turn the metaphorical light on than to turn it off.

i believe that there is a switch in every relationship between two people, and fortunately for a vast majority of us that switch will remain on once it has managed to be flicked. this is the switch that completes the circuit and bridges the gap between two separate lives. there is a switch in every relationship, even between sworn enemies - as long as you come to know somebody, there will always be a switch that is turned on, no matter how far apart from each other you are and no matter how long you have not met each other.

i cannot believe that i have never thought of things this way, but i have also now come to realise that once the existence of The Switch has been confirmed and The Switch has been located, it can also be Turned Off. i currently believe that this is one of the most cruel and heartless things one person can do to another. I have had The Switch Turned Off on me five times (by five different people), as far as i can remember, and three of the five times i couldn't care less about (lucky me), one i am still quite sad about, and

the last one turned a rather big part of me off with it - but it's alright now because they were right - time heals all wounds. :)

i digress -

most switches stay turned on because it is human nature to maintain the status quo, and it will never occur to most people to do something as drastic as to flick these switches off. this is also what gives us the knowledge and certainty in certain relationships that no matter what happens, the two people involved will still always be there for each other and their lives will inexplicably be linked for an indefinite amount of time.

however, sometimes, one just has to admit defeat and realise that some circuits are dysfunctional loops which are only capable of producing wasted energy in the form of heat...

... and that there are some switches that are best

Turned Off.



flick.