Mya Nunnally around 3,300 words

120 Branch Avenue

Red Bank, NJ 07701
732 318 474
l!"erally#ya$%#a!l&co#
Said the Serpent to the Woman
'y Mya Nunnally
(wr!"!n% as Mya Ale)!ce*
+ a# naked, save ,or lon% wh!"e s"r!-s o, %au.e&
/lu!d dra!ns around #e0 a "h!ck l!1u!d "ha" leaves a layer on #y sk!n& 2he a!r !s -ure and
'rea"h"ak!n% and + reach a'ove #e "o s"re"ch3
My -al#s h!" %lass&
4lean %lass "ha" 'lends !n w!"h "he #u"ed wh!"e walls a'ove& + 'rea"he and "ry "o s"ay cal#& +
canno" re#e#'er how + ca#e "o 'e here, 'u" "he #e#ory "!ckles a" "he corner o, #y #!nd& + a#
ne!"her cold nor war#& My hands look s!ckly and -runed, l!ke +5ve 'een !n "he 'a"h ,or #uch "oo
lon%&
67ello, Al!ce&8
A s#oo"h, #!n!#al!s" !n"er,ace a--ears on "he %lass& A s!n%le c!rcle, w!"h an ) !n "he cen"re,
and words on e!"her s!de& Yes and No !n s#all, 'lue, %low!n% le""ers&
6Al!ce98 2he vo!ce !s oddly #e"all!c& + canno" "ell !, !" !s ,e#ale or #ale&
+ "ry "o s-eak, 'u" canno"& +5ve ,or%o""en how&
62ouch yes !, you5re al!ve, Al!ce&8
My ,!n%ers ,!nd "he word and -ress&
6Ah, wonder,ul& + would ha"e "o lose ano"her&8
+ swallow, una'le "o -rocess&
6My na#e !s :av!d&8
+ 'l!nk&
64an you re#e#'er why you are here98
+ shake #y head&
;!lence&
6Al!ce, + canno" see you&8
<h& + reach u- and "ouch no.
6=ould you l!ke #e "o "ell you98
No&
6=ould you l!ke "o e)!" "he slee-!n% ca-sule, Al!ce98
Yes&
6+ need "o #ake sure you are ,unc"!on!n% well enou%h "o leave&8
+ ,rown&
6=ha" !s #y na#e98
A key'oard ,loa"s on"o "he screen&
+ "y-e !" !n& D A V I D.
>ood& =ha" !s your na#e98
+ "y-e& A L I C E.
>ood& ?se an ad@ec"!ve "o descr!'e so#e"h!n%&8
2here !s no"h!n% else + can "h!nk o,& + canno" re#e#'er any"h!n% 'u" now&
C O M F O R T I N G.
And now "ell #e wha" you were descr!'!n%&8
Y O U R V O I C E.
7e lau%hs, and !" sounds&&& o,,& 7ollow, -erha-s& ;!#ula"ed&
+ do no" hear ,ro# h!# ,or a lon% "!#e& + 'e%!n "o coun" #y 'rea"hs& + a# u- "o e!%h" hundred
and s!)"y ,our !nhales and e!%h" hundred and s!)"y ,!ve e)hales when "he "o- o, "he ca-sule releases
s"ea# and o-ens&
Aon%, l!#'er ,!n%ers 'elon%!n% "o a -ale hand see- !n"o #y l!ne o, v!s!on&
2hey -ause a'ove #e, wa!"!n%&
6Are you a'le "o s"and98
7!s vo!ce !s realer !n -erson, 'u" s"!ll no" en"!rely hu#an& +" !s so,", ye" !cy&
+ s"!ll canno" s-eak&
+ %ro-e ,or h!s ar#, and +5# a'le "o -ull #ysel, u-& + r!se and s!" u-& My a'do#!nal #uscles
ache a" "he s"re"ch and + le" ou" a %roan& My ha!r ,alls ou" o, !"s -lace and over #y eyes and + le" #y
neck loll 'ack& + suck !n a!r, as !, + a# 'rea"h!n% ,or "he ,!rs" "!#e&
2he roo# !s co#-le"ely wh!"e& Al#os" 'l!nd!n%& My -u-!ls e)-and and con"rac", "ry!n% "o
ad@us"& A headache -ools 'eh!nd #y ,orehead&
6Are you alr!%h", #!ss98
+ ,or%e" he !s !n "he roo# w!"h #e& + "urn, and ,or a #o#en", a# los"&
7e !s s"r!k!n%& 7!s sk!n !s ala'as"er, and h!s eyes are l!lac, and h!s ha!r !s a crea#y 'lond!sh
wh!"e& 7e does no" look real& <r #ay'e !" !s "ha" he looks so real, he !s no"&
6Bes,8 + choke ou", and "he sound o, #y own vo!ce s"ar"les #e& 6Are you3 are you :av!d98
7e nods&
6Are you real98 + ask&
7e 'l!nks #echan!cally, eyes ,!)ed on #e& 62ha" de-ends on your de,!n!"!on o, "he word,
#!ss&8
6Are you hu#an98
62ha" de-ends on your de,!n!"!on o,36
6=ere you 'orn, or #ade98 + cu" h!# o,,&
7e ,al"ers& +" !s sl!%h", and + al#os" do no" no"!ce& 6+ was asse#'led, yes& + do no" have a
'!olo%!cal #o"her&8
6<kay&8
6:oes "h!s 'o"her you98
+ shake #y head& 67ow lon% was + aslee-98
6C!%h" years, #!ss&8
+ 'l!nk, una'le "o -rocess& 6=as + su--osed "o 'e aslee- "ha" lon%98
6No, #!ss&8
6;o +5ve woken u- early "hen, 'e,ore anyone else98
6No, #!ss& Bou5re la"e&8
+ have "he s"ren%"h "o s"and now, "hrow!n% one shaky le% over "he ed%e o, "he ca-sule and
le""!n% #y ,ee" s#ack "he %round& 6=ha" do you #ean, +5# la"e9 +, everyone else !s awake, why
d!dn5" "hey wake #e u- when "hey d!d98
7e looks a" #e& 6+ never sa!d everyone else was awake&8
+ can ,eel #y headache -uls!n% and + know + can only handle so #uch a" a "!#e& 6:on5" "ell
#e any #ore ye"& Are "here clo"hes + can wear98 2he o"her ,oo" #ee"s "!led ,loors& + wo''le, s"!ll
hold!n% on"o :av!d5s ar# ,or 'alance&
7e nods& 62hou%h + dou'" we have any"h!n% "ha" w!ll do you @us"!ce&8
+ -ause& + s"ra!%h"en #ysel, u-, 'u" even a" ,ull he!%h", #y eyes only #ee" h!s ch!n& 6=ha" !s
"ha" su--osed "o #ean98
6Bou are 1u!"e 'eau"!,ul, M!ss Al!ce&8
+ swallow& 6=ha" do andro!ds know a'ou" 'eau"y98
6;hall we98 7e o,,ers, and + nod& =e walk a s"e- a" a "!#e& My le%s v!'ra"e w!"h unease, and
+ ,eel l!ke a ch!ld&
A new'orn&
6+ was crea"ed "o 'e -er,ec"& =!"h every hu#an + co#e !n"o con"ac" w!"h, #y a--earance
al"ers, "o su!" "he!r needs&8 7e s"o-s and allows #e "o re%a!n #y ,oo"!n%& =e 'e%!n "o walk a%a!n,
#ak!n% our way "owards a door across "he roo#& 6Bou sa!d #y vo!ce co#,or"s you&8
6+" does&8
6=ha" co#,or"s you #ay sound !rr!"a"!n% "o ano"her& =ha" + look l!ke now #!%h" 'e, oh, +
don5" know, ,r!%h"en!n% "o so#eone else& + a# as 'eau"!,ul as any hu#an can 'e, a" any #o#en" !n
"!#e&8
6;o wha" a# +, !, you are always 'eau"!,ul98
6;"!ll 'eau"!,ul, 'u" "o #e&8 7e says, and + do no" 'lush& 7e !s an andro!d and + a# a hu#an
and + do no" 'lush& 6+ canno" s-eak ,or anyone else&8
62hank you, :av!d&8
6Bou are #os" welco#e, M!ss Al!ce&8
=e reach "he door& 7e -ushes, and !" sw!n%s o-en&
2he sh!- !s vas", and see#!n%ly endless& 7e leads #e "hrou%h %ardens o, 'lue !vy and
'eaches o, wh!"e wa"er and "ells #e "h!s sh!- was no" crea"ed w!"h a des"!na"!on !n #!nd& 2ha" !" !s
never #ean" "o land& =e ,!nd a roo# w!"h halls and halls o, clo"hes, and + wear "he ,!rs" "h!n% + ,!nd
3 a -as"el dress "ha" re#!nds #e o, #y #o"her&
+" re#!nds #e o, her, 'u" + don5" know why&
+ canno" re#e#'er her na#e&
A,"er hours and hours o, e)-lor!n%, :av!d leads #e !n"o a roo# w!"h only a 'ed !n "he cen"re
and shelves and shelves o, 'ooks surround!n% !"& 2he s-!nes are !n colour order, so "hey s-!ral across
"he 'ookshelves l!ke a ra!n'ow& 2here #us" 'e "housands&
67ave you read "he# all98 + ask, "ak!n% a sea" on "he 'ed&
6Bes& 2w!ce&8
+ ra!se #y eye'rows&
6C!%h" years !s a lon% "!#e, and "hou%h !" #ay so see#, "here !s no" a l!#!"less a#oun" o,
l!"era"ure&8 7e reasons, and lau%hs& 7!s lau%h #akes #e w!nce& +" see#s so l!,el!ke, 'u" + know !" !s
ar"!,!c!al, @us" l!ke h!s sense o, hu#our&
6+ "h!nk +5# ready,8 + say, and + ,eel #y 'ody "ens!n% u- "o 'race !"sel, ,or "he "ru"h "ha" w!ll
,ollow& 6:av!d, why !s no one else awake98
62hey were awake once,8 he s"ar"s, as !, he has -rac"!ced "h!s& 7e s-eaks l!ke he5s read!n%
o,, o, a scr!-"& 6A,"er a year, when we5d reached ou"er s-ace, "hey were su--osed "o wake& All "hree
"housand&8
+ hold #y hands "o #y #ou"h& Three thousan.
=hy d!dn5" "hey98
7e s"ares o,, "o "he 'ookshelves& 62hey d!d, Al!ce& 2hey d!d&8
7e does no" con"!nue& 7e s"ays !n "he "rance ,or several #!nu"es, e)-ress!on 'lank& <ne
hundred and "wo !nhales, one hundred and one e)hales&
6My a-olo%!es& +" see#s + was los" !n a #e#ory,8 he con"!nues& 62hey woke, and ,or days,
"hey were ha--y& 2hey "hr!ved here, con"en" "o s"ay ,orever& ?n"!l "he v!rus ca#e&8
6A d!sease98
6Bes& <ne "ha" consu#ed "he# all, e)ce-" ,or "he ch!ldren& 2he adul"s wen" #ad, rav!n%
#ad, un"!l "hey had k!lled each o"her, or k!lled "he#selves&8
6And "he ch!ldren98
62he ones who surv!ved were -u" 'ack "o slee-& =hen "hey reached adul"hood, "hey were "o
'e woken u-, and allowed "o co##and "he sh!-&8
6+5# one o, "he ch!ldren,8 + acce-" "h!s and swallow "he real!sa"!on& +" !s '!""er down #y
"hroa"& 6My ,a#!ly !s %one&8
6Bes&8
6And "he o"her ch!ldren, "hey have d!ed98
6Bes& + a# sorry,8 :av!d says& 6+, you5d l!ke, + can %!ve you #ed!c!ne "o hel- w!"h "he
a#nes!a& Bou5ll 'e a'le "o re#e#'er a%a!n !n no "!#e a" all& Bour ,a#!ly, your ,r!ends, your l!,e
'e,ore "h!s&8
+ shake #y head& + ,all 'ack on"o "he 'ed and close #y eyes& 6+5d #uch ra"her ,or%e" !" all&8
6Bu" M!ss Al!ce, are you sure9 +,36
6+, + don5" re#e#'er #y ,a#!ly, + w!ll no" have "o lose "he#&8
62ha" lo%!c !s sound, 'u"36
6:av!d&8 + 'rea"he& 6+" !s #y cho!ce& + choose "o ,or%e"&8
Eight Days Later
+ le" #y ,ee" d!- !n"o "he wa"er& +"5s hea"ed, and "he waves are s!#ula"ed, and + !#a%!ne "h!s !s
wha" "he ocean ,eels l!ke, 'u" + know !" !s no"&
+ sw!# ,or an hour, !%nor!n% "he !n"er,ace on "he %lass wall ask!n% #e "o acce-" :av!d5s
#essa%e& 7!s ,our"h #essa%e !n "he las" "wen"y #!nu"es&
+ k!ck wh!le +5# underwa"er, connec"!n% w!"h "he s!de o, "he -ool and -ro-ell!n% #ysel,
,ur"her !n"o "he dee- end& =hen + reach "he o"her s!de, %e" ou" "o dry #ysel, o,,, and "urn "o ,ace "he
wa"er, + screa#&
My ,ace con"or"s !n horror a" "he sw!rls o, red !n "he wa"er& A "ra!l, lead!n% "o #e& <u" o, "he
corner o, #y eye, + see red, "oo, and + scra#'le "o "w!s" #y 'ody un"!l ,!nally + can see3 "here !s a
%a-!n% hole !n #y s!de&
And !"5s no" "he ,ac" "ha" + ,el" no -a!n "ha" "error!ses #e&
+ sw!-e alon% "he wall neares" #e, and "he %lass "urns !n"o a #!rror& + can see "he %ash now, a
lon% s"r!- o, 'lood and "orn sk!n, and #y s"o#ach curls and + wan" "o cry&
Be"ween "he r!--ed ,olds o, sk!n, "here are s"ray w!res&
+ "u% on one o, "he#, and ,eel "he ur%e "o vo#!"& +" won5" 'ud%e& A!ke !"5s %ra,"ed !n"o #y
sk!n&
=!nc!n%, + se-ara"e "he ,lesh ,ur"her, and + ,!nd cords and l!%h"s and ca'les& + ,all "o "he
%round, hands shak!n% and rosy w!"h 'lood&
+ do no" have an e)oskele"on& + have a c!rcu!" 'oard&
Real!sa"!ons sla# !n"o #e l!ke ,re!%h" "ra!ns&
+ don5" re#e#'er ea"!n% or dr!nk!n% s!nce + woke u-& +" never even crossed #y #!nd& +
haven5" had "o rel!eve #ysel,, or "o slee-&
I a! not !ysel"# I a! !a$h%ne.
+ -ress #y -al#s a%a!ns" "he #!rror, and "he !n"er,ace a--ears a%a!n& + sw!-e u-, and around
#e, :av!d5s vo!ce echoes, l!ke yes"erday&
67ello, Al!ce& + was wonder!n% where36 2here are ca#eras !n here, so + know he can see
#e& 7!s vo!ce, ,or once, "urns w!ld& 6Al!ceD Are you alr!%h", have you 'een hur", wha"5s wron%98
+ ,u#e, hold!n% #y s!de "o%e"her w!"h #y 'are hands& 6Bou knewD8
6Enew wha"98
62ha" + wasn5" realD8
7!s s!lence !s aud!'le over "he louds-eaker& 7e 'rea"hes, !n and ou"& /!ve !nhales, ,!ve
e)hales& 6+ was %o!n% "o "ell you, once you were ready&8
+ -ress #y head a%a!ns" "he "!led ,loor&
6Al!ce, you #us" le" #e e)-la!n& Bou weren5" always l!ke #e&8
+ -erk u-& 6=ha"98
6Bou were dy!n%, you were one o, "he las" ch!ldren le,", your #o"her was on her dea"h 'ed
and she "old #e "o kee- you al!ve, wha"ever !" "ook&8 7e s!%hed& 6+ a# 'u" a servan", #ade "o ,ollow
orders& + had "o&8
6You d!d "h!s "o #e98 /lashes o, "he -as" a""ack #e now, %l!#-ses o, #y "en year old sel,
s"ru%%l!n% a%a!ns" res"ra!n"s as + was -u" !n"o cryoslee-, o, :av!d, look!n% "he sa#e as he does now,
"ell!n% #e every"h!n% w!ll 'e ,!ne, o, "he l!d o, "he ca-sule clos!n% over #e&
6Al!ce, + d!d you a ,avour, + %ave you e"ernal l!,eD8 7!s vo!ce echoes across "he walls& +" !s
no" so co#,or"!n% any#ore& 6+ %ave you an e"ern!"y w!"h #e, here, where "here !s no l!#!", or no
end& And +&&&8 he -auses& 6+ #ade you 'eau"!,ul&8
+ need "o close #y eyes "o kee- #ysel, sane& My "hou%h"s are con,e""! and #y hands are no"
'!% enou%h "o %a"her "he# all "o%e"her&
62ake #e 'ack,8 + order, and he #us" ,ollow& 7e !s a servan", #ade "o ,ollow orders& 62ake
#e 'ack "o Car"h&8
7e lau%hs, and +5ve never ,el" so uneasy& 6Al!ce, dear& =hy do you "h!nk we le," !n "he ,!rs"
-lace98
+ hy-erven"!la"e& + do no" wan" "o know& :on5" "ell #e&
:on5"&
6Car"h !s %one, as !s everyone else, #y darl!n%&8
:on5"&
6=e5re all "ha"5s le," o, "he hu#an race&8
:on5"&
6Jus" you and #e& +"5s -er,ec"& Bou5ll 'e "he Cve "o #y Ada#,8 he chuckles "o h!#sel,& And
"hen, he lau%hs& Mad, !nsane ,!"s o, lau%h"er "ha" su,,oca"e #e, ,!ll!n% "he a!r w!"h a s!ck hys"er!a& +"5s
all "ha" + can hear&
+ release #y s!de, and look a" #y hands& 2hey are a v!olen" red, 'u" + wonder !, "h!s 'lood !s
even #!ne&
+ 'e%!n "o lau%h, "oo&
+ howl w!"h del!%h", @o!n!n% !n w!"h :av!d un"!l he s"o-s, cur!ous& 6Al!ce, are you alr!%h"98
+ s#!rk& 6<, course, darl!n%& + shouldn5" 'e an%ry& + should 'e %ra"e,ul&8
7e #ulls "h!s over& 7!s 'rea"hs are ,ren.!ed, and + can al#os" hear h!# s#!le&
62ha"5s r!%h",8 he says a" las"& 6+ d!d save your l!,e, a,"er all&8
6Bes, you d!d& 4are "o save !" a%a!n98 + ask&
6+5ll 'e "here, soon, M!ss Al!ce& :on5" worry&8
+ %r!n, "hen w!"h a ,l!ck o, #y ,!n%ers, end "he call&
7e co#es no" ,!,"een #!nu"es la"er w!"h 'anda%es !n one hand and a 'ook s!.ed 'o) !n "he
o"her&
6Are you okay98 7e asks& 7e kneels ne)" "o #e as + l!e on "he ,loor, ,!n%ers -!nch!n% #y
wound shu"&
+ nod&
67ow d!d "h!s ha--en98
6+ #us" have scra-ed #ysel, a%a!ns" "he -ool wall,8 + reason&
7e l!,"s #e u- w!"h one hand !n order "o wra- "he 'anda%es down and around #y ches" and
s!de& 2he 'anda%es %low w!"h "he %el !ns!de o, "he#, and "he %ash 'e%!ns "o heal& =hen "he 'anda%e
roll has run ou", he "urns around and reaches !n"o h!s 'o) ,or so#e"h!n%, and + "ake #y chance&
+ sw!n% #y le%s u-, sla# #y ankles !n"o "he s!de o, h!s neck, and "w!s"&
7e ,alls w!"h a crack, and + cl!#' "o #y ,ee"& + crea"e d!s"ance 'e"ween us, hurry!n% "o "he
o--os!"e end o, "he roo#& My ,ee" s#ack a%a!ns" "he ,loor and #y ches" heaves ou" ra%%ed 'rea"h
a,"er ra%%ed 'rea"h and "he sound r!n%s around #y head&
+ ,all alon% "he wh!"e wall, and s"are a" :av!d and h!s 'roken 'ody&
7!s ches" !s s"!ll, 'u" + know he #!%h" no" even need "o 'rea"he& 2he lu#- o, h!s 'ody
re#!nds #e o, a ra% doll + used "o own&
2he w!nd !s knocked ou" o, #e&
2he #e#or!es rush 'ack "o #e all a" once, !n 'l!nd!n% ,as"F,orward s-eeds, and + cradle #y
head w!"h #y hands&
My #o"her "ell!n% :av!d "o Lea&e her alone'( My #o"her "ry!n% "o a""ack h!# w!"h so#e
sor" o, kn!,e& My #o"her 'leed!n% ou" on "he ,loor, eyes e#-"y&
My !other.
6;he d!dn5" ask ,or #e "o 'eco#e "h!s,8 + wh!s-er, and "he revela"!on !s so 'ru"al ,or a
#o#en", + canno" see a" all& ;"ars sw!# 'eh!nd #y eyel!ds& And "hen, #o#en"s a,"er, + have never
seen so clearly !n #y l!,e& And + know wha" + #us" do&
+ a# w!ld, -ure -o"en"!al ener%y, as + s"and& +n "h!s second, + a# !nv!nc!'le&
+ char%e "owards h!#, ,ace "w!s"ed !n an%er and ,!re and ra%e& A "hou%h" "u%s a" #e3 would
he s"!ll ,!nd #e 'eau"!,ul now9
+ ,all "o #y knees !n ,ron" o, h!#& + ra!se #y ,!s"s u-, 'u!ld!n% ener%y, and +5# a'ou" "o 'r!n%
"he# down on"o h!s -er,ec", -orcela!n ,ace when + see h!s #ou"h "urned u- !n a sl!%h" s#!le& +5ve
real!sed #y #!s"ake "oo la"e&
7e e)-lodes u-wards, head 'u""!n% #e !n "he ,orehead& + '!"e #y "on%ue as + ,all 'ack, and
"hou%h + canno" ,eel !", "he "as"e o, #e"al ,loods #y #ou"h&
:av!d kee-s h!s cal# de#eanour as he ,orces h!#sel, on "o- o, #e& 7e ,la""ens #e, and #y
ches" "hrea"ens "o 'urs"& 7e #us" have des!%ned #e "h!s way0 "oo weak "o esca-e !, need 'e& 7e
reaches !n"o h!s 'o) as + s"ru%%le and "hrash and screa#&
7e -ulls ou" a "h!n, lon% syr!n%e ,!lled w!"h wh!"e l!1u!d&
+ ,!ddle w!"h #y s!de, ,!n%ers search!n% ,or so#e"h!n%, any"h!n%, and "ry!n% no" "o ,a!n"& +
canno" "ell wha" !s or%an and wha" !s #ach!ne&
7e leans down "o k!ss "he 'r!d%e o, #y nose& 6>ood'ye, M!ss Al!ce&8
+ le" ou" a shr!ek, one so ch!ll!n% and h!%h -!"ched he can5" hel- 'u" ,l!nch& + %ra' on"o a hard
#e"al rod !ns!de o, #e and yank !" ou" and close #y eyes and @a# !" ,orward& +" %oes "hrou%h "he
s!de o, :av!d5s ,ace and co#es ou" o, h!s cheek, and + know wha" +5ve @us" "aken ou" o, #e&
A r!'&
A syn"he"!c, #echan!cal r!'&
:av!d5s #ou"h ,alls and h!s eyes droo-& 7!s !ns!des ,l!cker and h!s 'ody wh!rs loudly as !"
"r!es "o re-a!r !"sel,&
+ "ake "he o--or"un!"y and k!ck and se!.e 'u" he s"!ll doesn5" 'ud%e& 2he %ears !ns!de h!# %e"
louder and louder&
+ %r!#ace, "ak!n% "he 'one ou" o, h!s ,ace& + don5" hes!"a"e "o shove "he h!l" o, #y -al# u- h!s
nose, so "ha" h!s head %e"s knocked 'ack, reveal!n% h!s -orcela!n neck& + ra# "he r!' across h!s
@u%ular& +ns"ead o, 'lood, #o"or o!l and %asol!ne s-!ll ou" !n %ushes, sl!d!n% down #y al#os" 'are
'ody and coa"!n% #e !n 'lack&
7!s 'ody 'eco#es s!len" and -owers down& + %roan and -ush h!# w!"h all o, #y #!%h"& 7e
,alls "o "he s!de o, "he -ool, and + %run", k!ck!n% h!# !n"o "he wa"er& 7!s 'ody dro-s l!ke dead
we!%h", and he 'e%!ns h!s descen" "o "he 'o""o# o, "he -ool&
+ "ake "he "!#e "o 'rea"he&
+ s!" u- and look a" "he #ess o, red and 'lack +5# drown!n% !n& Blood and %rease& 7u#an and
#ach!ne&
+ "ry "o s"and& + canno" s"and "he 'urn" s#ell& + need "o leave&
My 'anda%es are a da#- cr!#son ,ro# "he s"ru%%le and hal, o, "he# s"!ck "o #y 'ody and
"he o"her hal, "ra!l 'eh!nd #e& + coun" #y 'rea"hs& <ne, one& 2wo, "wo&
+ "ry "o assess "he da#a%e w!"h shaky ,!n%ers&
My ,orehead was r!--ed down, "he sk!n ,old!n% over l!ke a -ancake& =here #y #uscles and
'one should 'e, + can ,eel "he r!d%es and c!rcles o, "he %ears and "he cords weav!n% !n and ou" o,
#e&
+ #ake #y way down "o #y s!de, where +5# s"!ll leak!n% red& 7al, o, #y s!de !s "orn a-ar",
and + can -ar"!ally see #y r!'ca%e !ns!de& 2hey al"erna"e3 #echan!cal, real, #echan!cal, real, and +
unders"and + s"!ll have so#e o, #ysel, le,"&
+ "ry "o la'el #ysel, "hen and "here as + walk ou" o, "he roo# !n"o "he 'l!nd!n% wh!"e hallway&
+" s"re"ches endlessly !n 'o"h d!rec"!ons& A# + andro!d9
B!on!c9
Mechan!s#9
4on"ra-"!on9
<r could +, a,"er all "h!s, s"!ll 'e hu#an9
A s#all, !na--ro-r!a"e lau%h esca-es #e&
6+ %uess "ha" de-ends on your de,!n!"!on&8