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.