By Michael Clune, from the Spring 2017 issue of Tin House. Clune is the author, most recently, of Gamelife, a memoir.

Yesterday I resolved to stop looking people in the eyes. I intended to begin a period of ocular abstinence, to refrain from eye contact for as long as I could — a week, perhaps, or twelve days. “Eyes are made to be looked from, not at.” How many times have I heard this proverb, acknowledging its good sense, only to violate it at the first opportunity?

I resolved to try again.

Things got off to a good start, as…