WHEN I WAS  IN EIGHT GRADE  I  DECIDED I 
 WAS DEAD.  MY SPIRIT  HAD LEFT  MY BODY, 
             NEVER TO RETURN.             
                                          
 I REMEMBER  SITTING IN MY PARENTS CAR ON 
 A  CLOUDY,  WATERY DAY,  GETTING  A RIDE 
 SOMEWHERE.  IT FELT  LIKE I  HAD  SOLVED 
 SOME   GREAT   PUZZLE.  I'VE  SOLVED  NO 
            PUZZLES SINCE THEN.           
                                          
  INSTEAD, I'VE BEEN MINDLESSLY PILOTING  
 THIS BODY AROUND.  I STILL GIVE IT LIFE, 
 SOMEHOW. LIKE A GOLEM, AND I TRY NOT  TO 
 CARE   TOO  MUCH,  BUT  I   DO.  IT'S  A 
   CONTAMINATED GOLEM, THIS ONE. PURITY   
 CLOUDED BY  MY  ECHO.  AFTERGLOW  OF  MY 
                 SPIRIT.