A haze engulfs me, swallowing me in pain as red as rubies, as merciless as flames. I burn, dimly aware of shadows beyond my pain. I am cognizant of shadows and whispers, silhouettes and commands. A haze engulfs me, swallowing me in pain as red as rubies, as merciless as flames. I burn, dimly aware of shadows beyond my pain. I am cognizant of shadows and whispers, silhouettes and commands.From this world or the next? Do I wake or sleep? Live or die? I cannot say. I do not care. The pain consumes me, makes me bare my teeth, cup my hands around my swelling womb, weep and wail. From this world or the next? Do I wake or sleep? Live or die? I cannot say. I do not care. The pain consumes me, makes me bare my teeth, cup my hands around my swelling womb, weep and wail.“It is not so fearsome as it

