“No,” I will tell her. “There is something wrong with this place. There is something wrong with you and everybody here. There is nothing, nothing, nothing wrong with me.”

Earth is the wrong place for me, always was and will be until the day I die.

When the woman is the hunter, she can only see the weak men. All strong men disappear. So you don’t need to hunt, Stephanie Reilly. You can live on a higher level. Just float around and you will find someone.

Now I only try hard to please myself. That is all that matters here. That is the secret thing I found.

sparkling mineral water, then drive the five hours up to Alna.

I loved it, or at least I thought I ought to love it—I’ve never been very clear on that distinction.

Nobody was judging me in Alna. I could do whatever I wanted.

later, I moved my bowels.

The next day back at my apartment, I still had the rash.