I never used to be afraid of spiders. In fact, if you have ever been around me whilst in the presence of a spider, chances are you wouldn't know at all that I am.
More than once, I have been in a group of people (often all of us present are girls) and a spider has dropped down from some crevice or hole with the purpose of frightening us.
I mean, really, why else would a tiny 8 legged creature fling itself down within the reach of us much larger creatures? We have the ability to destroy a spider in a moment. With our fists.
Surely a spider knows this? Surely we have been a natural enemy since our birth?
Perhaps a spider is just the most daring of creatures. Maybe the brave mark of the animal kingdom should be the spider and not the lion. Lions are stronger and faster than the average human.
What bravery does it take to fell an enemy weaker than yourself?
But I digress.
As my friends and I stand, accosted by this poor creature there is often exclamations near shrieking and sometimes a call for the aid of some more masculine member of our party.
I however, am known to take up the torch of the hero, or heroine as it were, and rescue the group from the spider.
I don't kill them. Whether because I don't have the heart to do so or lack the nerve is of little consequence. A simple cup and paper trick removes the spider to an outside location.
Simple and easy, yes?
It's something I have been doing for years. Even as a kid I used to capture spiders and beetles and other unsightly or spooking bugs and release them away from the fearful sibling or friend.
It wasn't until I was older that I even noticed it bothered me.
You see, if I find myself face to face with the creatures, on my own, my pulse quickens and I catch my breath.
It's much, much harder for me to dispense of spiders when I'm doing it for myself.
Sometimes I think that it is because my self-preservation instinct is rigged for "flight" while my instinct for protecting others is latched to "fight".
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