Hit the dirt. My visor clears. Watch the wreckage disappear. Something shifts beneath the sand. Feel it stop when I try to stand. Stone splits open. Steps wind down. Hear a voice beneath the ground. Sounds like mine on little sleep. Same low notes I strain to reach. One bare room. A figure waits. Lifts his head. I see my face. Same torn sleeve, the same dried stain. He knows me. I can see the shame. My voice, my face. My blood runs cold. He knows this place. He won’t let go. I pull away. My fingers lock. He stands. I fall. PARADOX. He steps past. I catch his sleeve. He looks back, then turns to leave. Try to crawl across the floor. Too far gone to reach the door. Try to shout. A note comes out. Same low tune I followed down. Clench my teeth until they ache. Still it sings. My voice won’t break. My voice, my face. My blood runs cold. I know this place. It won’t let go. I bite my tongue. The sound won’t stop. It fills my lungs. PARADOX. Dust builds up along my sleeves. Footsteps interrupt the beat. Count each one. I know them all. Hear him coming down the hall. He looks in. I lift my face. Now I know why I saw shame. I reach out. He takes my hand. His knees buckle when I stand. He pulls my sleeve. I turn away. I need to leave. I know he’ll stay. I shut the door. I hear the lock. I’ve done this all before. PARADOX. Reach the ridge beneath the stars. See my ship come down in parts. See myself thrown from the blast. Same descent. The same impact. PARADOX.
