VOICES No.5

Voice I: The essence of this tendency to abstain is born from an overwhelming desire to escape.

Voice II: And yet, there can be no escape.

Voice I: Exactly. Furthermore, I am running out of places to run and hide to, I have fallen so far that the floor is now my ceiling.

Voice II: And yet, there never was a floor.

Voice I: Precisely so. Which means that my ever-opening abyss, my bottomless pit, the dank hole I must forever plunge down, this is my highest achievement. I cannot expect to rise above an abject mediocrity.

Voice II: Even this, I propose, is beyond you.

Voice I: Yes, most likely. But where does this leave me?

Voice II: It leaves you nowhere. As you have said, you are forever descending further – into new realms of futile discovery. And the darkness never leaves, nowhere never leaves you alone.

Voice I: That’s right. Or is it wrong? I’m always alone, only - nowhere never leaves me. Nowhere never leaves me alone.

Voice II: Do you feel lonely now?

Voice I: Yes.

Voice II: But why?

Voice I: Because I am talking to myself. Or to nobody. And nobody never leaves me alone either.