…hello? …ok. i am not me. i am not me. ok. next. ok. next. mirror says “hi” but it’s not my face same black fur in the same cold place i know the route i know the door i’ve been here once i’ve been here more pawprints circle back to start something moves but it’s not a heart no memory to prove it no feeling to fight just a body on autopilot in blue light i am not me, i am not me hands still clean, but not guilty i am not me, i am not me i say “ok” like it fixes me tap tap tap— i don’t ask why look at the glow, watch time go by i am not me, i am not me still here… empty i am not me. i am not me. ok. next. ok. next. name tag missing collar gone i answer fast but the “me” is wrong laugh track plays i nod on cue someone said “love” i said it too i can do the lines i can do the trick but the center of me won’t ever click if i stop, i disappear so i keep the loop sincere not alive, not dead— just near i am not me, i am not me soft reboot, no recovery i am not me, i am not me only “ok” inside of me tap tap tap— the same old slide i’m in the seat but no one drives i am not me, i am not me still loading… quietly almost cried. almost felt. almost “mine.” then it fell. who wrote this? who left this trace? who keeps coming back to the same place? i am not me, i am not me no back door, no identity i am not me, i am not me just a habit wearing me ok. next. ok. next. loop so sweet it eats my breath i am not me, i am not me …ok. i am not— …me.
