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Leg past leg, speeding forward, he kept moving kept moving, and so did the words, the endless stream of life narration, swirling dizzying his brain, old songs over and over, old memories over and over, fears of the future, taking control, freezing him, city sweeps by as a blur, sneaker on pavement, not for exercise—escape, indistinct faces of friends neighbors strangers, it’s come to this, challenging his sanity, the words from him in him of him, stomach churns but he continues, the words change volume, now louder now quieter, never silent, no peace, wind bites and tears well, legs ache but refuse to rest, marathon of one, when will it stop, will the words ever stop, blabbering babbling, please no more words, no more thoughts, no more brain noise, no more, calves are taut, long strides and deep breaths, strength ebbing and still speeding, still no rest, buildings, trees, sky, then just stuff, indistinct, just lines, maybe nothing, nothing at all, nothing exists, no stuff, no words, just being being being, a cough, then silence and being being, legs extended longer longer, only breath no words, not a word, silent silent silent at last, legs continue, he had outrun them, he outran the words, caught silence and peace, outran madness and dropped with a vacant smile.