Have you ever felt like a part of you… just wouldn’t let go? The dream is a little fuzzy. Fragments. Feelings. Something not right. But one idea stood out: there were nine brains within me. Nine centers. Nine voices. Too much happening inside. And something… was malfunctioning. So the doctors came. Calm. Decisive. Certain. They operated. Removed the faulty one. Just like that. Taken out. Gone. Or so it seemed. Because soon— what was removed… returned. Not as a thing. But as someone. An identity. Separate. Aware. And it was looking for me. It began to haunt me. I ran. Not thinking. Just running. Fear rising. Steps quickening. Until I found a room small, enclosed… almost like a bathroom. I went in with my husband. Closed the door. Locked it. Held my breath. Then knock. A sound that didn’t feel ordinary. Again. knock. It knew I was inside. My husband tried to help. He raised his voice “She’s not here!” Trying to convince it. Trying to send it away. A momentary silence gave hope. But then...