psychophysicists say smell is the oldest sense

It’s accepted as fact that horses give birth at the first scent of an oncoming storm. That each toe of a female sloth emits a distinct aroma based on the torque of its then current grasp. How Ancient Romans cut off the nose of adulterers, depriving the philanderer of his manhood. His societal acceptance. His base approachability. This is why I have taken the utmost care of my nose. Each morning we begin with a series of dynamic stretches. Then I take my nose on a leisurely jog, to get the blood flowing. Next, several rounds of pushups using only my nasal apex. I feed it lean proteins, make sure it doesn’t get a whiff of refined carbohydrates, glaze the nostril rim with several potent tinctures. Now it sits atop my face with the authority of a Roosevelt Elk, its cilia sensitive enough to pick through bouquets of time. If I concentrate, I can still smell each atom of my mother’s mascara as her eyelashes skim my newborn cheek. Still sense her calming breath light up a room like the neon skin of a box jellyfish.