WHAT DRAWS FLYS AND MEN TO LIGHT? IS IT FOR THE IMMORTAL SUCCESS AND EMPTY, SPACIOUS VOWS? ETERNAL FREEDOM FROM LOVE AND POWER? OR IS IT FOR THAT BREIF AWE OF THE FUTURE'S HAZY DEATH GLOW?

HER IRON LUNG WEIGHTS DOWN HER SOUL TO THE SOIL. IF NOT, SHE'D SIMPLY GRAZE THIS WORLD LIKE A PLACID BEIGE HINDU COW WITH HALF-OPEN,VAGRANT EYES. HER (MY) LIFE IS SOME ARTLESS BASTARD'S EXPERIMENT WITH CUT AND PASTE. THE IMAGES, INDIVIDUALLY, MEAN WELL BECAUSE UP CLOSE AND WITH A SIMPLE STUDY THEY LOOK LESS RED AND MORE IN FOCUS. BUT AS A FACE, TOGETHER... IT JUST VERY SIMPLY IS WHAT IT IS AND NOTHING MORE SPECTACULAR OR LESS NONESSENTIAL.

WE SIT, WHEEDLING AND HUNCHING OVER IN DARKNESS OVER THIS MISSION, THIS VENTURE INTO THE UNKNOWN. WE CRADLE OUR SKIN, SOME OF US WISHING WE NEVER INVITED IT OVER FOR A DECENT MEAL BECAUSE NOW WE CAN'T GET RID OF IT. WHAT'S BIZARRE ABOUT IT IS THAT SOME OF US, WELL, MOST OF US DON'T KNOW WE'RE ALL THROWN INTO THIS THING TOGETHER, AS ONE MASS OF UNCENSORED ENLIGHTENMENT. SOMETIMES WE MEET THESE PEOPLE AND ARE CHANGED FOREVER. WE MAY LOSE CONTACT WITH THEM, AS IT MAY HAVE BEEN JUST A ONE-DAY ALTERATION, BUT WE NEVER FORGET. OH, HOW WE NEVER, EVER FORGET THEIR FACE.

"HEALTHY." THE WORD SENDS A SHARP FREQUENCY OF PARANOIA AND SPLINTERS MY EARS, RESULTING IN TINY STRESS-CREVICES IN MY BRAIN. THAT WORD IS EVERYTHING I CAN NOT BE. WHY DID SHE SAY THAT?! IN A SENSE, IT MAKES ME A FAKE. SURELY IF YOU CAN BE A FAKE OF THE WRONG THING, IT SHOULD BE JUST AS EASY TO BE ONE OF THE 'NORM.' WELL, MY BEING AVERAGE HAS GOT TO CHANGE THEN. I CAN ONLY EXIST ON ONE HABITAT OF THE SCALE OR ANOTHER. I'M ENDANGERED LAYING OPEN AND VULNERABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF SUCH DEVIATING AND STRONG OPPOSING SIDES.