The NBM Chronicles

Stories of people all over the world who may or may not have a leg to stand on. Literally.

[thenbmchronicles]

Welcome to The NBM Chronicles!

My name is Marcus, and here, you'll find real accounts and stories of everyday people and their experiences living in a world where taking off your head is as easy as removing a hat. NBMC will feature exclusive interviews, photos, and videos on a weekly basis.

[thenbmchronicles]

The Price to Pay

Would you buy someone else's head? The question presents itself as another taboo in the body magic communities, and it lends itself to another question:

Why would you want to look like someone else?

The complexity of such an answer is what pushes many away from the act of purchasing new heads from body stores (which will take any part for cash in return). Perhaps others see it as unethical, or impractical. Your face is tied to, if not completely defining, your identity. And depending on said identity, you could either be loved, hated, or feared, with nothing done to warrant it.

Another issue is the cloning and selling of celebrity heads. Some do it willingly to add to their already abundant wealth, while others have theirs copied by illegal means, and without consent. Because of this growing problem, legislature has been introduced. Chipping every body part in circulation has been thought of as the de-facto way to curb that identity theft. The difficulty of enforcement, however, pushes the concept farther into the future.

For now, we must do our due-diligence to question those we interact with before drawing unfair---or well deserving---conclusions. Who knows. Perhaps in our future the free use of detaching whenever and whatever will be limited...or entirely prohibited if these dilemmas propagate to dangerous levels.

Not a world I would want to live in.

[thenbmchronicles]

Meet Emmanuel and Adelina. Natural Body Detachment plays a huge role in their lives as they navigate the complexities that can sometimes arise from it.

Marcus: "When did you realize your head couldn't reattach?"

Adelina: "It was during my nephew's baseball game." Marcus: "Oh no."

Adelina: "No, no, nothing hit me. We were just sitting and watching when a felt a weird warmth around my shoulders, like the sensation when you accidentally wet yourself. Next thing I know, my boyfriend is holding my head."

Emmanuel: "Caught it right before it hit the bleachers."

Marcus: "Was that the first time you ever saw Adelina headless?"

Emmanuel: "I think so. We talked about detachment before, but we weren't really all too curious. Since then it hasn't been a choice."

Adelina: "We tried for hours after we left the game, trying all sorts of different remedies and tricks to make my head stick back on, but nothing worked."

Emmanuel: "Not even that so called 'body tape'."

Marcus: "So how is day-to-day life now?"

Adelina: "We've managed. It's not ideal, but most things are done separately. My head will be watching videos while my body takes a shower, or my boyfriend will take my head to the kitchen while he cooks to talk while my body lays down."

Emmanuel: "Took some getting used to, but I like all the benefits that comes with it."

Adelina playfully punches her boyfriend in the shoulder.

Adelina: "Manuel. No estoy aquí, tonto. No necesito saber nada de eso."

Marcus: "I assume he's talking about your sex life."

Adelina: "dios mío. Yes, he may or may not like the...self-worship aspect we've experimented with."

Emmanuel: "That's quite the understatement, mi amor."

[thenbmchronicles]

Another Cure for Loneliness? (Cont.)

The questions led me to create a online poll, with the option to fill out a short form for those who wished to share more.

I was genuinely surprised with the responses. Out of the over three-thousand, only four filled out the form. It told me everything I needed to know.

Despite natural body detachment's introduction a decade and a half ago, a taboo still exists. I estimated that a large percentage of the 'No's came from the religious crowd that---if one remembers the initial reception of detachment---thought of it as a satanistic ritual. An opinion that still stands today.

That wasn't the surprise though. The real shock came from noticing that for a sizable portion of the world (statistically speaking of course) the thought didn't cross their mind. Detachment was everywhere. From movies to games, its presence was hard to ignore, and yet, some manage to turn a blind eye to it.

As for those who offered to share more, they thought nothing of it. One couple would clone their own heads to give to each other when they would go to work or long trips away. Another would leave their body behind, their buddies taking the head since that's all one would need to go drinking, apparently.

And of course, one woman turned her ability into a business. A body lending business. For a decent fee, she will drop off her headless body to those who didn't have a partner (or did at the time, but not my place to judge) and allow them to sleep or simply spend time with it.

Who needs conversation anyways?

[thenbmchronicles]

Another cure for loneliness?

Coffee isn't my thing. Never liked it, never will. But something about the atmosphere a cafe brings is a well of creative energy. Perhaps it's the media portrayal, or it has always been the societal oasis for artists---a now open secret.

As I sat, pecking at the keyboard in a trance-like state, an odd sight tore my attention away from the screen. A woman sitting a few tables away, sipped on a hot drink as she stared blankly at the busy street bathed in the amber glow of streetlights. On the table was the disembodied head of a man. It accompanied her in such a way I could only assume it was a significant other. I looked away, a tinge of guilt for silently intruding on the intimate scene.

It was a bittersweet realization that due to detachment, we could keep loneliness at bay, even in a superficial manner. The head (assumingly) could not talk nor respond to touch. But the woman could very likely feel as if she had him by her side, as small of a part as it may be, bringing comfort and safety in an otherwise lonesome period of parting.

There was so many things I wanted to ask, but I couldn't bring myself to despite how persistent the journalist in me was. Was this something couples did now? What else would be considered tokens of companionship in proxy?

I had to know.

[thenbmchronicles]

The Origins of Natural Body Detachment

Not many people know that when I first began documenting NBM, it was just that. Magic. The general public--myself included--was not aware that there was science involved in the making of our modern-day culture.

Thus, I reached out to Dr. Abhijit Sachar, regarded as the pioneer in Restorative Disarticulation, and asked him about his opinion and if his perception has changed since.

His answer? Not much. While others would have patented the procedure and built an monopoly out of it, Sachar commends the medical professionals with the talent capable of matching his own.

"[Restorative Disarticulation] helps countless others every day. Without this technology, we would have lost loved ones who had a chance to live otherwise. Yes, the world has changed. Some for the worst, but absolutely for the better."

[thenbmchronicles]

Meet Marissa and Forest, a newlywed couple that agreed to share their experiences living with natural body detachment.

Marcus: "How long did it take for you to become comfortable detaching body parts in front of your husband?"

Marissa: "Not long. He's been super sweet and understanding."

Forest: "She did scare me once though. Remember when your leg fell off while you were walking and nearly dove into oncoming traffic?"

Marissa: "Oh gosh, yes. For some reason my right leg is easier to come off than the other. Same with my right hand."

Marcus: "Why your right leg?"

Marissa: "I don't know, watch!"

Marissa immediately kicks off her flip-flop, and her leg from the knee down, comes off effortlessly. She swings it up and nearly slaps her husband.

Marcus: "Wow."

Marissa: "If I'm wearing heels, it can be easier just popping this off and throwing it to the side to deal with later."

Forest: "Real trick is keeping Mr. Bones from running off with it."

Marissa: "Such a silly dog."