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.