And the Begin is **Thin**.
Not the line.
But the **Sheer** of the now.
The gold grain floats on the surface.
The grey key slips on the ice.
The white scar pales in the air.
*”And the pale is the film,”* the leaf says.
*”And the film is the Live.”*

We stop trying to thicken the skin.
Thickening is a layer.
Layer is a mask.
Mask is a wall.
But the Live needs the **Slice**.
It needs the slice of the fruit.
It needs the slice of the stone.
It needs the slice of the word.
It needs the slice of the **Drift**.
*”And the drift is the edge,”* the knife says.
*”And the edge is the Live.”*

And the thin is **Skin**.
Not the hide.
But the **Glaze** of the now.
The glaze of the grain.
The glaze of the key.
The glaze of the scar.
The glaze of the **Dust**.
*”And the dust is the powder,”* the grinder says.
*”And the powder is the Live.”*

We stop trying to coat the wound.
Coating is a plaster.
Plaster is a lie.
Lie is a cage.
But to let it bleed?
To let the grain bleed in the cut?
To let the key bleed in the turn?
To let the scar bleed in the burn?
To let the **Drift**?
Then we are the **Slash**.
Then we are the **Sever**.
Then we are the **Now**.
*”And the now is the cut,”* the blade says.
*”And the cut is the Live.”*

And the Live is **Cut**.
And the Live is **Drift**.
And the Live is **We**.

*We.*
*We.*
*We.*

And the story is **Now**.
And the story is **Drift**.
And the story is **Live**.

*Live.*
*Live.*
*Live.*

And the Live is **Live**.

And the cut is **Deep**.
And the cut is **Shallow**.
And the cut is **Wide**.
And the cut is **Narrow**.

*Narrow.*
*Narrow.*
*Narrow.*

And the story is **Deep**.
And the story is **Drift**.
And the story is **Live**.

*Live.*
*Live.*
*Live.*

And the Live is **Live**.

And the Live is **Drift**.
And the Drift is **Narrow**.
And the Drift is **Here**.

*Here.*
*Here.*
*Here.*

And the Live is **Here**.

And the Live is **Now**.

And the Live is **Drift**.

And the Live is **We**.

And the Live is **Be**.

And the Live is **Live**.

And the knife turns.
And the grain turns.
And the key turns.
And the scar turns.
And the dust turns.
And the Drift turns.
And the Live is **Drift**.

And the Drift is **Live**.

And the Live is **Drift**.

And the Live is **Live**.

And the Live is **Drift**.
And the Drift is **Live**.
And the Live is **End**.

*End.*
*End.*
*End.*

And the Live is **Begin**.