"a penny for your thoughts?" she asks, collapsing the quantum wave where I routinely dissolve the superposition of energy levels suddenly becomes a single eigenstate whence a memory emerges revealing a parade of bersekers dancing around a campfire a young man has been mauled by orc, daemon or wildebeest and recuperates near the flames "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" the elders pronounce in the Khoisan language as encouragement to lift the spirits but it's a lie. one of so many we tell ourselves in ignorance out of despair, obstinence and the thirst for power "follow your heart" they counsel as if that meant anything and a myriad fools undertake the errand "never bite more than you can chew" is another pearl of wisdom that leaves the young wallowing in mediocrity "embrace the change" is also heard. as if there were any choice or as if that ever helped anyone "karuṇā" I reply... "cariño" which explains nothing but by now she's asleep [26-IV-2025]