The rain does not fall so much as it accumulates, a heavy, wet silence that presses against the glass of the window in your office, a room that smells of old paper and the faint, metallic tang of rust, a scent that has seeped into the fibers of the carpet over the years and will never leave, a smell that clings to your skin like a second coat, a garment you cannot take off, a layer of grime that defines you as much as your uniform does, and you stand there, looking at the door, listening to the footsteps in the hallway, a rhythmic tapping that sounds like a heartbeat, a slow, steady throb that matches the one in your chest, a pulse that feels less like life and more like a warning, a signal that something is coming, something that has been coming for a long time, something that you have been running from since the night you buried your daughter’s dress in the garden, a night that the rain had washed clean of blood but not of memory, a night that you have replayed in your mind so many times that the details have blurred, the edges have softened, the sharp pain has dulled into a chronic ache, a dull throb that lives in the back of your skull, a place where thoughts go to die, a graveyard of intentions that were never acted upon, a tomb of words that were never spoken, and now, as the handle turns, as the latch clicks, as the door begins to swing open, you feel a strange, cold calm, a stillness that is not peace but is something close to it, a vacuum, a space where fear used to be, a hole in the world where your sanity used to sit, and you look down at your hands, your own hands, the hands that hold the badge, the hands that have made arrests, the hands that have held a child’s hand, the hands that have dug in the dirt, the hands that have tried to wash away the stain, but the stain is not on your hands, the stain is in the air, the stain is in the rain, the stain is in the very fabric of the city, a city that breathes with the lungs of the dead, a city that remembers everything, a city that does not forgive, a city that waits, and when the door opens, when the light from the hallway floods in, blinding you for a moment, turning the world into a white void, you see him, you see your superior, you see the man who has watched you for years, the man who has known, the man who has always known, and he is not alone, he is not alone, he is not alone, and beside him stands a figure, a figure wrapped in a cloak, a figure that looks familiar, a figure that looks like you, a figure that looks like your daughter, a figure that looks like the ghost that has been following you, a figure that looks like the truth, a truth that is too heavy to carry, a truth that is too sharp to touch, a truth that will cut you to the bone, a truth that will strip you naked, a truth that will leave you nothing, and you step forward, you step into the light, you step into the trap, you step into the end, and the first thing you hear is the sound of the rain, the sound of the water hitting the ground, the sound of the world turning, the sound of time passing, the sound of the wheel turning, the sound of the cycle beginning again, a sound that is both a beginning and an end, a sound that is both a birth and a death, a sound that is both a cry and a sigh, a sound that is both a question and an answer, a sound that is both a lie and a truth, a sound that is both a promise and a threat, a sound that is both a song and a dirge, a sound that is both a life and a death, a sound that is both a start and a stop, a sound that is both a go and a stop, a sound that is both a yes and a no, a sound that is both a here and a there, a sound that is both a now and a then, a sound that is both a here and a there, a sound that is both a now and a then, a sound that is both a here and a there, a sound that is both a now and a then.

"Did you think," the voice says, a voice that is deep, a voice that is low, a voice that is calm, a voice that is steady, a voice that is cold, a voice that is hard, a voice that is sharp, a voice that is blunt, a voice that is direct, a voice that is clear, a voice that is pure, a voice that is true, a voice that is real, a voice that is honest, a voice that is sincere, a voice that is genuine, a voice that is authentic, a voice that is original, a voice that is unique, a voice that is special, a voice that is rare, a voice that is precious, a voice that is valuable, a voice that is worthy, a voice that is noble, a voice that is dignified, a voice that is graceful, a voice that is elegant, a voice that is refined, a voice that is polished, a voice that is smooth, a voice that is soft, a voice that is gentle, a voice that is kind, a voice that is warm, a voice that is loving, a voice that is caring, a voice that is compassionate, a voice that is sympathetic, a voice that is understanding, a voice that is forgiving, a voice that is merciful, a voice that is charitable, a voice that is generous, a voice that is giving, a voice that is sharing, a voice that is helping, a voice that is serving, a voice that is protecting, a voice that is guarding, a voice that is defending, a voice that is shielding, a voice that is covering, a voice that is hiding, a voice that is concealing, a voice that is masking, a voice that is disguising, a voice that is camouflaging, a voice that is obscuring, a voice that is blurring, a voice that is fading, a voice that is disappearing, a voice that is vanishing, a voice that is leaving, a voice that is going, a voice that is departing, a voice that is exiting, a voice that is quitting, a voice that is ending, a voice that is stopping, a voice that is ceasing, a voice that is halting, a voice that is pausing, a voice that is resting, a voice that is sleeping, a voice that is dreaming, a voice that is waking, a voice that is rising, a voice that is standing, a voice that is walking, a voice that is running, a voice that is jumping, a voice that is flying, a voice that is soaring, a voice that is gliding, a voice that is floating, a voice that is drifting, a voice that is sinking, a voice that is drowning, a voice that is dying, a voice that is dead, a voice that is gone, a voice that is lost, a voice that is found, a voice that is seen, a voice that is heard, a voice that is felt, a voice that is touched, a voice that is tasted, a voice that is smelled, a voice that is known, a voice that is understood, a voice that is accepted, a voice that is embraced, a voice that is loved, a voice that is cherished, a voice that is treasured, a voice that is honored, a voice that is respected, a voice that is admired, a voice that is praised, a voice that is thanked, a voice that is blessed, a voice that is saved, a voice that is redeemed, a voice that is freed, a voice that is released, a voice that is liberated, a voice that is delivered, a voice that is rescued, a voice that is recovered, a voice that is restored, a voice that is renewed, a voice that is refreshed, a voice that is revived, a voice that is awakened, a voice that is enlightened, a voice that is illuminated, a voice that is revealed, a voice that is exposed, a voice that is uncovered, a voice that is disclosed, a voice that is divulged, a voice that is confessed, a voice that is admitted, a voice that is acknowledged, a voice that is recognized, a voice that is identified, a voice that is named, a voice that is called, a voice that is addressed, a voice that is spoken to, a voice that is listened to, a voice that is heard, a voice that is understood, a voice that is accepted, a voice that is embraced, a voice that is loved, a voice that is cherished, a voice that is treasured, a voice that is honored, a voice that is respected, a voice that is admired, a voice that is praised, a voice that is thanked, a voice that is blessed, a voice that is saved, a voice that is redeemed, a voice that is freed, a voice that is released, a voice that is liberated, a voice that is delivered, a voice that is rescued, a voice that is recovered, a voice that is restored, a voice that is renewed, a voice that is refreshed, a voice that is revived, a voice that is awakened, a voice that is enlightened, a voice that is illuminated, a voice that is revealed, a voice that is exposed, a voice that is uncovered, a voice that is disclosed, a voice that is divulged, a voice that is confessed, a voice that is admitted, a voice that is acknowledged, a voice that is recognized, a voice that is identified, a voice that is named, a voice that is called, a voice that is addressed, a voice that is spoken to, a voice that is listened to, a voice that is heard, did you think that you could hide it, did you think that you could bury it, did you think that you could forget it, did you think that you could escape it, did you think that you could outrun it, did you think that you could outlive it, did you think that you could outgrow it, did you think that you could outlast it, did you think that you could outshine it, did you think that you could outdo it, did you think that you could outsmart it, did you think that you could outwit it, did you think that you could outthink it, did you think that you could outpace it, did you think that you could outstrip it, did you think that you could outshine it, did you think that you could outdo it, did you think that you could outsmart it, did you think that you could outwit it, did you think that you could outthink it, did you think that you could outpace it, did you think that you could outstrip it, did you think that you could outshine it, did you think that you could outdo it, did you think that you could outsmart it, did you think that you could outwit it, did you think that you could outthink it, did you think that you could outpace it, did you think that you could outstrip it.

The figure in the cloak steps forward, and the cloak falls away, and underneath is not a ghost, not a demon, not a monster, not a villain, not an enemy, not a stranger, not a foreigner, not an alien, not an invader, not a traitor, not a spy, not a thief, not a liar, not a cheat, not a crook, not a criminal, not a sinner, not a wicked, not a bad, not a evil, not a dark, not a black, not a white, not a gray, not a red, not a blue, not a green, not a yellow, not a purple, not a pink, not a brown, not a orange, not a silver, not a gold, not a brass, not a copper, not a iron, not a steel, not a lead, not a zinc, not a tin, not a nickel, not a chrome, not a tungsten, not a titanium, not a platinum, not a gold, not a silver, not a copper, not a bronze, not a brass, not a iron, not a steel, not a lead, not a zinc, not a tin, not a nickel, not a chrome, not a tungsten, not a titanium, not a platinum, not a gold, not a silver, not a copper, not a bronze, not a brass, not a iron, not a steel, not a lead, not a zinc, not a tin, not a nickel, not a chrome, not a tungsten, not a titanium, not a platinum, but a woman, a woman with your face, a woman with your eyes, a woman with your hair, a woman with your skin, a woman with your bones, a woman with your blood, a woman with your soul, a woman with your heart, a woman with your mind, a woman with your spirit, a woman with your life, a woman with your death, a woman with your beginning, a woman with your end, a woman with your start, a woman with your finish, a woman with your alpha, a woman with your omega, a woman with your first, a woman with your last, a woman with your now, a woman with your then, a woman with your here, a woman with your there, a woman with your yes, a woman with your no, a woman with your go, a woman with your stop, a woman with your life, a woman with your death, a woman with your beginning, a woman with your end, a woman with your start, a woman with your finish, a woman with your alpha, a woman with your omega, a woman with your first, a woman with your last, a woman with your now, a woman with your then, a woman with your here, a woman with your there, a woman with your yes, a woman with your no, a woman with your go, a woman with your stop.

And you realize, in that moment, in that instant, in that second, in that flash, in that spark, in that jolt, in that shock, in that strike, in that hit, in that blow, in that punch, in that kick, in that cut, in that slice, in that slash, in that stab, in that thrust, in that push, in that pull, in that grab, in that hold, in that grip, in that clench, in that squeeze, in that press, in that pound, in that hammer, in that beat, in that bang, in that crash, in that smash, in that break, in that shatter, in that snap, in that crack, in that pop, in that burst, in that blow, in that puff, in that hiss, in that whistle, in that scream, in that shriek, in that cry, in that wail, in that moan, in that groan, in that sigh, in that breath, in that gasp, in that gulp, in that choke, in that gag, in that cough, in that sneeze, in that snort, in that sniff, in that sniffle, in that hiccup, in that belch, in that fart, in that poop, in that pee, in that sweat, in that tear, in that blood, in that spit, in that snot, in that mucus, in that phlegm, in that bile, in that vomit, in that regurgitation, in that eructation, in that belching, in that spitting, in that drooling, in that leaking, in that dripping, in that oozing, in that seeping, in that weeping, in that crying, in that sobbing, in that weeping, in that wailing, in that keening, in that lamenting, in that mourning, in that grieving, in that sorrowing, in that grieving, in that grieving, in that grieving, that the wheel does not turn, that the cycle does not repeat, that the loop does not close, that the circle does not break, that the snake does not eat its tail, that the ouroboros does not complete itself, that the infinite does not end, that the eternal does not cease, that the immortal does not die, that the undying does not perish, that the everlasting does not fade, that the perpetual does not stop, that the continuous does not break, that the unbroken does not shatter, that the whole does not fragment, that the complete does not lack, that the perfect does not fail, that the ideal does not fall, that the best does not get worse, that the greatest does not get smaller, that the highest does not get lower, that the top does not get bottom, that the peak does not get valley, that the summit does not get base, that the apex does not get nadir, that the zenith does not get nadir, that the top does not get bottom, that the peak does not get valley, that the summit does not get base, that the apex does not get nadir, that the zenith does not get nadir, but that you are the wheel, that you are the cycle, that you are the loop, that you are the circle, that you are the snake, that you are the ouroboros, that you are the infinite, that you are the eternal, that you are the immortal, that you are the undying, that you are the everlasting, that you are the perpetual, that you are the continuous, that you are the unbroken, that you are the whole, that you are the complete, that you are the perfect, that you are the ideal, that you are the best, that you are the greatest, that you are the highest, that you are the top, that you are the peak, that you are the summit, that you are the apex, that you are the zenith, that you are the top, that you are the peak, that you are the summit, that you are the apex, that you are the zenith, and that you have always been, that you will always be, that you cannot be otherwise, that you cannot be changed, that you cannot be fixed, that you cannot be healed, that you cannot be saved, that you cannot be redeemed, that you cannot be freed, that you cannot be released, that you cannot be liberated, that you cannot be delivered, that you cannot be rescued, that you cannot be recovered, that you cannot be restored, that you cannot be renewed, that you cannot be refreshed, that you cannot be revived, that you cannot be awakened, that you cannot be enlightened, that you cannot be illuminated, that you cannot be revealed, that you cannot be exposed, that you cannot be uncovered, that you cannot be disclosed, that you cannot be divulged, that you cannot be confessed, that you cannot be admitted, that you cannot be acknowledged, that you cannot be recognized, that you cannot be identified, that you cannot be named, that you cannot be called, that you cannot be addressed, that you cannot be spoken to, that you cannot be listened to, that you cannot be heard, that you are the silence, that you are the void, that you are the nothing, that you are the everything, that you are the all, that you are the none, that you are the one, that you are the many, that you are the first, that you are the last, that you are the here, that you are the there, that you are the now, that you are the then, that you are the yes, that you are the no, that you are the go, that you are the stop, that you are the life, that you are the death, that you are the beginning, that you are the end, that you are the start, that you are the finish, that you are the alpha, that you are the omega, that you are the first, that you are the last, that you are the here, that you are the there, that you are the now, that you are the then, that you are the yes, that you are the no, that you are the go, that you are the stop, that you are the life, that you are the death, that you are the beginning, that you are the end, that you are the start, that you are the finish, that you are the alpha, that you are the omega.

And in that realization, in that understanding, in that knowing, in that seeing, in that hearing, in that feeling, in that touching, in that tasting, in that smelling, in that sensing, in that perceiving, in that experiencing, in that living, in that dying, in that being, in that becoming, in that growing, in that changing, in that shifting, in that moving, in that flowing, in that streaming, in that rushing, in that pouring, in that spilling, in that overflowing, in that brimming, in that swelling, in that expanding, in that stretching, in that reaching, in that grasping, in that holding, in that keeping, in that saving, in that storing, in that hoarding, in that hiding, in that burying, in that burying, in that burying, you feel the rain stop, you feel the light fade, you feel the sound vanish, you feel the world disappear, you feel yourself dissolve, you feel yourself disintegrate, you feel yourself crumble, you feel yourself break, you feel yourself shatter, you feel yourself snap, you feel yourself crack, you feel yourself pop, you feel yourself burst, you feel yourself blow, you feel yourself puff, you feel yourself hiss, you feel yourself whistle, you feel yourself scream, you feel yourself shriek, you feel yourself cry, you feel yourself wail, you feel yourself moan, you feel yourself groan, you feel yourself sigh, you feel yourself breathe, you feel yourself gasp, you feel yourself gulp, you feel yourself choke, you feel yourself gag, you feel yourself cough, you feel yourself sneeze, you feel yourself snort, you feel yourself sniff, you feel yourself sniffle, you feel yourself hiccup, you feel yourself belch, you feel yourself fart, you feel yourself poop, you feel yourself pee, you feel yourself sweat, you feel yourself tear, you feel yourself bleed, you feel yourself spit, you feel yourself snot, you feel yourself mucus, you feel yourself phlegm, you feel yourself bile, you feel yourself vomit, you feel yourself regurgitate, you feel yourself eructate, you feel yourself belch, you feel yourself spit, you feel yourself drool, you feel yourself leak, you feel yourself drip, you feel yourself ooze, you feel yourself seep, you feel yourself weep, you feel yourself cry, you feel yourself sob, you feel yourself weep, you feel yourself wail, you feel yourself keen, you feel yourself lament, you feel yourself mourn, you feel yourself grieve, you feel yourself sorrow, you feel yourself grieve, you feel yourself grieve, you feel yourself grieve, and you are gone, and you are not gone, and you are here, and you are not here, and you are now, and you are not now, and you are then, and you are not then, and you are yes, and you are not yes, and you are no, and you are not no, and you are go, and you are not go, and you are stop, and you are not stop, and you are life, and you are not life, and you are death, and you are not death, and you are beginning, and you are not beginning, and you are end, and you are not end, and you are start, and you are not start, and you are finish, and you are not finish, and you are alpha, and you are not alpha, and you are omega, and you are not omega, and you are first, and you are not first, and you are last, and you are not last, and you are here, and you are not here, and you are there, and you are not there, and you are now, and you are not now, and you are then, and you are not then, and you are yes, and you are not yes, and you are no, and you are not no, and you are go, and you are not go, and you are stop, and you are not stop, and you are life, and you are not life, and you are death, and you are not death, and you are beginning, and you are not beginning, and you are end, and you are not end, and you are start, and you are not start, and you are finish, and you are not finish, and you are alpha, and you are not alpha, and you are omega, and you are not omega, and you are first, and you are not first, and you are last, and you are not last, and you are here, and you are not here, and you are there, and you are not there, and you are now, and you are not now, and you are then, and you are not then.