Page 6 - gAIa — Advance excerpt

Prologue

when the first star will be rising
western wish, or curse, which burns in
our first step will face turning
to the east’s deep purple offing
as its back the earth turns in spin
light and warmth from sun renouncing

anticipation is more joyful
than the joy you’re anticipating

black and growing long hair
braiding now with night’s dark blur
and the star? as many out there
same as the steps to Her
but the plane trees don’t care
rooted neighbourhood, prepare

the dread you’re anticipating
more dreadful than its anticipation

—D. Dedes, stages of unrequited Love, “anticipation”
c. 2026

Montreux. Switzerland. Year 2089.
Dr. Eurydice Cao stood in front of the scanning chamber, ex-
plaining the machine to seven weary faces on a screen. She had
helped design the chamber. Its glass cylinder now awaited to-
morrow’s scan of the first human subject: her very own brain.

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© Danis Dedes — Advance excerpt, not for redistribution!