Stop.

[He doesn't mean to say it like that, like it's a command. But it comes out, anyway. Maybe it's how fresh everything still feels. Or because of how much those words echo the ones he can't silence in his own head.]

[The ones from behind cracked glass and yellow eyes.]

Yeah. I saw it. Yeah, it was something else. And... it was pretty bad. I'm not going to lie to you.

It also wasn't you. Not anymore than this... [And he inclines his head at the metal arm in its sling.] ... is me. It's attached. It's not coming off without rewiring parts of me that shouldn't ever be rewired.

And it's destructive as anything, if I let it. [A shake of his head.] I mean, I'm not pretending it's exactly the same thing, but go with the metaphor here. I'm still pretty tired.

I guess the point is, it's something you have to deal with, but it's not you. And as for the rest?

[He spreads his good arm out.] I'm still here. And I'm not going to just disappear any time soon. So let's worry about that if it happens.