“I need another two or three days in order to paste together the fragments of myself and thus restore at least something similar to the O-90 of old. Then I shall go myself, and myself I shall state that I take your name from my list, and this will be better for you; you must feel happy now. I shall never again.⁠ ⁠…”

“ Goodbye, O- .”

Never again. Yes, that is better. She is right. But, why then?⁠ ⁠… Why then?⁠ ⁠…