There are times when Im reading a book I find a part that seems to penetrate my skin. Though it may not profoundly change anything, the words continue to haunt me. Below is an excerpt from Daniel Hechts novel Skull Session which is just that.
But Ive decided on a title for the story. I call it Five Things Worse Than Dying, because the schizophrenic girl keeps thinking of things and she makes a list. Heres the list:
1.Being just a meat machine, almost like your trapped inside of it, it does what it does whether you want it to or not.
2.Losing your sense of what a human being is, what theyre capable of, what the word human even really means, and so not having any idea what you are or where you belong.
3.Living life but not being able to feel it, because its either not enough or its too much.
4.Being so alone, youre not sure other people are real.
5.Going through life not ever sure whats inside your mind or whats in the world outside you.
Mo rocked back in his chair, feeling Heathers words as if they were blows, battering him remorselessly. After a stunned moment, he quickly folded the letter and covered it with his notebook to shield himself from the anguish it expressed. On the heels of shock came anger, a bone-deep hatred
But Ive decided on a title for the story. I call it Five Things Worse Than Dying, because the schizophrenic girl keeps thinking of things and she makes a list. Heres the list:
1.Being just a meat machine, almost like your trapped inside of it, it does what it does whether you want it to or not.
2.Losing your sense of what a human being is, what theyre capable of, what the word human even really means, and so not having any idea what you are or where you belong.
3.Living life but not being able to feel it, because its either not enough or its too much.
4.Being so alone, youre not sure other people are real.
5.Going through life not ever sure whats inside your mind or whats in the world outside you.
Mo rocked back in his chair, feeling Heathers words as if they were blows, battering him remorselessly. After a stunned moment, he quickly folded the letter and covered it with his notebook to shield himself from the anguish it expressed. On the heels of shock came anger, a bone-deep hatred