Trafika Europe 6 - Arabesque

ABLATION chapters iii, iv, v Translated by Clayton McKee

chapter iii - The Decision

A blation, noun – the action of entirely or partially removing an organ… Removing, taking out, subtract with the goal of eliminating a malicious disease, relieve and then suffer the consequences. A bit of a man, a tiny little bit damaged. The damage will not be seen. No-one will verify if I am whole or not. My imagination is playing games with me; it ’s going faster than my thoughts. It precedes me and presents me with a spectacle where I don’t recognize myself; however, I make an effort not to fall into

its trap. We mathematicians learn rather early on about ourselves that we are on a time limit and that it is pure illusion to believe we can alter that timeline. Me, I have not mastered anything big in my life — but this time, I am alone facing myself. I should decide. No one will do it for me. As usual, I procrastinate. Catherine always helped me a lot in moments like this. It’s crazy that I would miss her. One day after a doctor’s appointment she told me: “He suspects a small problem in my left breast. He suggests surgery, a radical solution

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