I have been "in denial" for some time, knowingly burning the candle at both ends and finding that it often… — Christopher Hitchens

As a terrified, half-aware imbecile, I might even scream for a priest at the close of business, though I hereby state while I am still lucid that the entity thus humiliating itself would not in fact be "me." (Bear this in mind, in case of any later rumors or fabrications.)

To the dumb question "Why me?" the cosmos barely bothers to return the reply: Why not?

My chief consolation in this year of living dyingly has been the presence of friends.