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    ,?URS"D1 ,JULY #H1 #AIIC3 ! MO/
    ANXI\SLY AWAIT$ "D ( MY LIFE4 ,SIX
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    A PRIVATE MO;T T ,I J _C 3TEMPLATE
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  ,AT MY F/ MEET+ ) MY SURGEON _M MON?S
    PREVI\SLY1 HE _H SU7E/$ T MY
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    (! FACT T ,I _H BE5 PROF.DLY D1F = M
    ?AN ?IRTY YE>S4 ,MY MEMORY ( S.D
    MI<T 2 POOR1 & 3SID]A# ATROPHY ( MY
    AUDITORY SY/EM MAY H O3URR$4 ,N ONLY
    MI<T ,I N 2 A# 6"U/& SPEE* BETT]1 HE
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    LIPR1D+ WD ALM C]TA9LY 2 EASI]1 & T
    ,I WD HE> M 5VIRON;TAL S.DS S* Z
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  ,2F T MEET+ )! SURGEON1 H["E1 ,I _H
    WRITT5 A %ORT SIMPLE LI/ ( MY TWO
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    BETT]1 & 65JOY MUSIC Z M* Z ,I US$
    62F X GRADU,Y FAD$ AWAY OV] ! YE>S4
    ,M* Z ,I 0 HABITUAT$ 6MY HE>+ AID1
    ,I DID N SEEM 6BE APPRECIABLY
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    NE>BY1 B ,I 0 UNA# 6"U/& ANY SPEE*
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  ,:5 ,I F/ DECID$ 6G AH1D )! SURG]Y1 ,I
    0 RELUCTANT 6TELL ANY"O O!R ?AN V
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    6ME ON ! TELEPH"O "R AWAY AF ,I GOT
    MY IMPLANT T ,I CDN'T EXPECT M*4 ,B
    SECRETLY1 ,I 0 3FID5T T ,I WD D
    WELL4
    
    ,TD1 ,I MEET ) ,DAVID ,%IPP1 MY
    AUDIOLOGI/1 = MY TURN ON4 ,I TELL HM
    H[ DI6ICULT ! SIX-WEEK WAIT S9CE !
    SURG]Y HAS BE54 ,DAVID IS A W>M &
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    PATI5TS4 ,HE HAS PUBLI%$ A NUMB] (
    RESE>* PAP]S ON ! SUBJECT ( PREDICT+
    CO*LE> IMPLANT \TCOMES4 ,HE 3FIDES T
    X'S ALW V DI6ICULT = HM TOO1 & T HE
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    D4 ,AUDIOLOGI/S & SURGEONS H FEW
    9DICATORS 6HELP !M PREDICT ! ABIL;Y
    (A PATI5T 6MAKE GD USE ( AN IMPLANT4
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    YE>S 9 MY CASE71 AGE AT IMPLANT,N
    7,I 0 =TY-SIX71 & MOTIV,N 7M9E 0
    EXCELL5T7 >E ?REE MA9 FACTORS4 ,! F/
    TWO 7 /RIKES AG/ ME1 B ! ?IRD1 MY
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    RESE>*] SPECULATES T "! IS A *EMICAL
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    RESULT F 3DI;NS T >E IMPOSSI#
    6EVALUATE 9 ADV.E1 S* Z ! PLACE;T (!
    ELECTRODE >RAY RELATIVE 6SURVIV+
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    AUDITORY SY/EM 9 ! BRA94 ,"! >E
    PROBABLY AL "S FACTORS A6ECT+ SU3ESS
    T NO "O HAS YET -PLETELY ID5TIFI$4
    
  ,I AM LIPR1D+ ,DAVID1 AL? ,I AL WE> MY
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    =! F/ "T & *ATT+ ) ME D N R1LIZE T
    ,I AM D1F1 & T ,I "U/& :AT !Y >E
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    ,H["E1 X IS TREM5D\SLY /RESS;L
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    OP;N = ME4 ,:5 ,I 0 A *1 & MY HE>+
    LOSS />T$ 6CR1TE PRO#MS = ME 9
    S*OOL1 ,I ALR _H SPEE*1 & MY P>5TS 7
    RELUCTANT 6S5D ME AWAY 6A RESID5TIAL
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    /RU7L+ ) MY PROF.D HE>+ LOSS1 ,I CD
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    ,=! FITT+1 ,DAVID TAKES \ (A BOX A
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    6-P5SATE = MY ?ICK HAIR1 & ,I FEEL X
    G CLUNK :5 HE PLACES X 2H MY E>4 ,?
    "T X /AYS ON SNUGLY4
    
  ,HE 9S]TS MY PROCESSOR BOX 9 A SLOT 9
    A PROGRAMM+ DEVICE 3NECT$ 6HIS -PUT]
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  ,! CO*LEA IS L A PIANO3 DI6]5T "PS ( X
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  ,9 A NORM,Y HE>+ E>1 S.D 5T]S ! E> Z
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    ,:ILE ,DAVID IS TE/+ ME1 ,I C'T 2
    SURE :5 ,I AM HE>+ A FA9T T"O & :5
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    IMAG9,N HAS 2COME V GD OV] ! YE>S1
    ESPECI,Y 2C MY HE>+ LOSS 0
    PROGRESSIVE4
    
  ,DAVID *ECKS & RE-*ECKS UNTIL HE IS
    SATISFI$ T HE HAS VALID L[ ?RE%OLDS4
    ,!N WE REP1T ! TE/ ON EA* ELECTRODE1
    B ? "T = L\D;S1 OR 8-=T0 LEVELS4 ,I
    AM 6TELL HM :5 A T"O 2COMES 8L\D B
    BE>A#40 ,?1 TOO1 IS DI6ICULT = ME
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    ,I H ! IDEA T A WIDE RANGE 2T ! L[ &
    HI< ?RE%OLDS W GIVE ME M B5EFIT1 S
    ,I TRY 6PU% MY LIMITS & /OP ONLY :5
    ! S.D IS UNBE>A#4 ,=! HI<-FREQU5CY
    S.DS1 ? TURNS \ 6BE :5 ,I FEEL A /AB
    ( PA9 9 MY H1D4 ,=! L[-FREQU5CY
    T"OS1 X IS :5 ,I FEEL MY BLOOD
    PRESSURE RIS+ 6AN UNCOM=TA# LEVEL4
    ,? /RATEGY IS A MISTAKE1 & AT E
    FITT+ SES.N 9 ! FOLL[+ WEEKS1 ,I W
    BR+ ^? L\D S.DS D[N 6A M BE>A# LEVEL
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    VOICES & SU45 S.DS1 & NE$ 6KEEP !
    S5SITIV;Y ( MY PROCESSOR TURN$ D[N
    TOO L[ =! PROGRAM 9 X 6OP]ATE AT XS
    BE/4
    
  ,WE H N[ GIV5 MY PROCESSOR A 8MAP0 (!
    HI< & L[ ?RE%OLDS = EA* ELECTRODE4
    ,! GD NEWS IS T EA* (! TW5TY-TWO
    ELECTRODES IS FUNC;N+4 ,9 R>E CASES1
    AN ELECTRODE W FAIL DUR+ OR AF
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    P]=M.E2 ! AUDIOLOGI/ C PROGRAM !
    PROCESSOR S T ADJAC5T ELECTRODES RCV
    ! /IMULUS M1NT =! NON-FUNC;N+ "OS4
    ,AL? MULTIPLE ELECTRODES >E BETT]
    ?AN "O ELECTRODE = SPEE* 4CRIM9,N1 M
    ELECTRODES D N NECESS>ILY GIVE M
    B5EFIT4 ,"S SY/EMS H SIXTE5
    ELECTRODES1 "S SIX1 & "S TW5TY-TWO2
    "S P ) SIX ELECTRODES MAY D BETT]
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  ,DAVID REMOVES MY PROCESSOR F 8 -PUT]
    & GIVES X 6ME 6PLACE 9 ! NYLON P\*
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    ME A LL PEP TALK AB H[ AT ! 2G9N+1
    "S P F9D T VOICES >E ME*ANICAL-S.D+1
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    TURNS ON ALL ! ELECTRODES & ASKS1
    8,H[ DOES T S.D80 ,I AM />TL$ & D N
    R1LIZE T HE IS NO L;G] SIMPLY
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    EI :I/LES OR HORNS4 ,N[1 ) !M ALL
    TURN$ ON1 ,I HE> A CACOPHONY ( HORNS
    & :I/LES GO+ (F TGR4 ,DAVID'S VOICE1
    :5 ,I R1LIZE X IS A VOICE ,I AM
    HE>+1 DOES N S.D L ,DONALD ,DUCK OR
    ,MICKEY ,M\SE Z ,DAVID _H W>N$ X
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    SEE MY 4APPO9T;T MIRROR$ ON ,DAVID'S
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    N[80 ,X DOESN'T4 ,8 VOICE IS BOOM+1
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    8,MY AUDIOLOGI/ ASK$ IF ,I CD HE>
    H]4 ,AF SEE+ ME %AKE MY H1D1 %E
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    UNDULAT+ WAVES ,I 0 FEEL+ 9 MY H1D 7
    ACTU,Y S.DS1 N MY IMAG9,N40--,KRI/9
    ,BUEHL1 BORN PROF.DLY D1F1 DESCRIB+
    H] TURN-ON EXP]I;E AT ! AGE ( TW5TY-
    "O4

,"S MON?S AF MY TURN ON1 ,I R1LIZ$ T MY
WITS AL"O 7 N GO+ 6HELP ME SU3E$ 9 ?
V5TURE4 ,:ILE ,I DID N FEEL PA!TIC1
?ANKS 6MY SMALL SU3ESSES ) MY NEW HE>+1
,I FELT ANGUI% T ! GRT] SU3ESSES ( O!RS
SEEM$ 6BE \ ( MY R1*4 ,I WI% X 7 N S1 B
EV5 TD1 ,I FEEL A PANG ( PA9 :5 ,I -P>E
MYF 6^? :O SEEM 6BE M SU3ESS;L 9 US+ _!
IMPLANTS3 ! "OS :O C TALK FREELY ON !
TELEPH"O 6ANY"O1 ! "OS :O C "U/&
ANN\NCE;TS OV] RASPY PUBLIC A4RESS
SY/EMS1 ! "OS :O SEEM 6BE ONLY MILDLY
HE>+ IMPAIR$4 ,:5 Y LIVE YR LIFE 9 A
HE>+ 5VIRON;T1 D1F;S ( ANY DEGREE C 2
H>D 6BE>4

,DAVID PATI5TLY WALKS ME >.D ! CL9IC 6H
ME LI/5 6ALL ! TORTUR\S 5VIRON;TAL S.DS3
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7,I ?"\ PLA/IC BAGS RU/L$ S(TLY 9 P1CE72
HE OP5S A DOOR T SQU1KS L\DLY 7:Y HASN'T
HE OIL$ XS H+ES874 ,WE WALK D[N !
CORRIDOR1 \R %OES MAK+ A TREM5D\S CLATT]
:5 !Y HIT ! FLOOR1 & ,I HE> NOISY
3V]S,NS "EY":4 ,DAVID SU7E/S T WE G
\TSIDE 6LI/5 6BUSES & BIRDS & C>S4 ,HE
IS 4APPO9T$ T "! IS NO L>GE BUS TAK+ (F
\TSIDE ! DOOR4 ,! SMALL "O IDL+ 9 FRONT
( ME SEEMS L\D 5\<4 ,"! IS A 3FUS$ JUM#
( NOISES1 & ,I'M RELIEV$ :5 WE H1D BACK
9SIDE4 ,WE G BACK UP/AIRS1 & ,DAVID %[S
ME H[ 6TAKE C>E (! EQUIP;T 7Q SIMPLE71 &
H[ 6PUT X ON & TAKE X (F4 ,I NE$ 6=CE
MYF 6PAY ATT5;N 6HM1 Z ,I AM ALR MAK+
PLANS 6AB&ON X ALL Z SOON Z ,I GET HOME4
,:5 HE HAS F9I%$ ) 8 EXPLAN,NS1 ,DAVID
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ME 6! DOOR4 ,:5 HE ASKS ": ,I AM P>K$1
,I LIPR1D HM & SAY1 QKLY1 8,I'M TAK+ A
TAXI40 ,I _H BE5 TOO UNC]TA9 AB H[ ,I'D
MANAGE ) MY NEW HE>+ 6DRIVE 6! HOSPITAL1
& _H PLANN$ 6TAKE A LEISURELY WALK "? !
P>K & RAV9E 6GET HOME4 ,N[1 ,I J WANT
6GET HOME FA/4
  ,:5 ,I GET \TSIDE1 H["E1 ,I DECIDE 6G
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L\D1 B "U/&A#--:AT ,I NORM,Y HE> )A HE>+
AID B AT L1/ T5 "TS L\D]1 ) "S 9T]E/+
HI<-PIT*$ S.DS ?R[N IN4 ,I L1VE !
HOSPITAL & CROSS ! ROAD 6! RAV9E4 ,X'S
GORGE\S ON ? B1UTI;L SUMM] "D &
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?\S&S ( BIRDS1 ALL V NOISY1 B ! S.DS1
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SC5E4 ,I ?R[ A SMALL /"O 96! /R1M1 &!
PLUNK IS SOLID & RECOGNIZA#4 ,MY FEET
SCUFF AG/ ! GRAVEL PA?1 &! S.D IS
SATISFY+ & PL1SANT4 ,P'S VOICES Z !Y
PASS >E ?"U\S & H>%1 & ,I HE> !M
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,A FEW BLOCKS LAT]1 ,I GET A DR9K1 &!
S.DS 9SIDE ! C(FEE %OP >E AG IMPOSSIBLY
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C>RY+4 ,I'M US$ 6HE>+ VOICES ONLY :5 P
>E TALK+ DIRECTLY 6ME1 B N[ ,I C HE> !M
F A L;G WAY (F4 ,"EY?+ IS S L\D4
  ,I >RIVE HOME1 -E "? ! DOOR1 & TRUDGE
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A :I/L+ NOISE AT E /EP4 ,MY TE5AGE SON1
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UP/AIRS AT 8 -PUT]4 ,HE TURNS EXCIT$LY
6ASK H[ X W5T4 ,HE C TELL F MY FACE T ,I
AM MIS]A#4 8,LI/510 ,I SAY1 8"!'S "S?+ !
MATT] ) X10 & ,I SWAY BACK & =? 9 ! HALL
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T10 HE SAYS1 RELIEV$1 8^? >E !
FLOORBO>DS CR1K+40 ,I 4COV]1 =! F/ "T1 T
"! >E L\D CR1K+ FLOORBO>DS "EY": 9 MY
H\SE4 ,:5 ,BLOSSOM1 ! DOG1 WALKS1 %E TOO
MAKES !M CR1K4 ,I FLIRT BRIEFLY )! IDEA
( MOV+ 6A H\SE ) 3CRETE FLOORS4

    8,:5 ,I CAME HOME F MY F/ MAPP+
    SES.N1 ,I RAN 96! H\SE1 TURN$ ON !
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    ALL ,I CD HE> 0 SO2+48--,D\GLAS
    ,LYN*1 :O 0 PROF.DLY D1F = FIFTE5
    MON?S F ,AUTOIMMUNE ,9N] ,E> ,41SE
    2F GETT+ AN IMPLANT 9 #AIIE4

,I _H MET ,BOB 2C ,I 0 D1F4 ,WE _H BO?
BE5 AT A "PY1 ": ,BOB1 AN \TGO+ P]SON :O
LIKES P1 _H APPROA*$ ME 6MAKE 3V]S,N4
,:5 HE ASK$ ME :AT MY "N WAS1 ,I _H
APP>5TLY GOT UP F MY *AIR & WALK$ AWAY4
,8 CURIOS;Y 0 PIQU$1 & HE ASK$ A MUTUAL
FR :Y ,I _H SNU2$ HM 7OR AT L1/1 Z HE
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_H N HE>D HM TALK+ 6ME4 ,:5 ,BOB ASK$ H[
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GAVE HM MY TELEPH"O NUMB] & TOLD HM T HE
WD NE$ 6CALL MY "M 6H H] RELAY MESSAGES
= ME Z ,I CD N "U/& ON ! PH"O4

,I KEEP HE>+ A /RANGE :I/L+ S.D AT ! 5D
( ,BOB'S & "EY"O ELSE'S ^WS4 ,X'S ONLY
AF ,I R1LIZE ^! ^WS >E (T5 PLURAL T X
O3URS 6ME T :AT ,I AM HE>+ M/ 2 !
SIBILANT1 S4 ,X IS A S.D ,I H N HE>D =
=TY YE>S4
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V4
  ,MY SPEE*1 2F ,I GOT MY CO*LE>
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WOMAN :O 0 A SPEE* PA?OLOGI/4 ,I
9TRODUC$ MYF1 SAY+ ONLY1 8,I99;M ,BEV40
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IMPROV$1 & MY ^WS _H M %APE & PRECI.N
6!M4

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6A PET %OP &A C;Y F>M ZOO4 ,I FEEL L A
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  ,9 MY SECOND C(FEE %OP (! "D1 !
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6TURN MY S5SITIV;Y LEVEL D[N4 ,? 3TROL
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BELT IS UNCOM=TA# & TUGS :5 ,I TURN MY
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  ,I 0 T5 YE>S OLD :5 ,I F/ />T$ 6WE> A
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_H SEWN ON MY "U%IRT1 )! OLD-LADY GRAY
CORD SNAK+ UP MY NECK 6! P9K BUTTON
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EMB>RASS;T ( MY *ILDHOOD :5 ,I AG WE> A
CORD SNAK+ D[N MY NECK ) MY IMPLANT
SY/EM1 B ! REMEMBR.E ( MY OLD 4COM=T IS
PA9;L4

,9 ! MORN+1 ,I VISIT ! CL9IC = MY SECOND
FITT+1 & ? "T1 ,I DON'T PU% ! -=T LEVEL
=! S.DS UP Z HI<4 ,WE CUT !M \ AT A S(T]
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  ,! NEXT "D ,BOB & ,I G 6A PICNIC ON
,TORONTO ,ISL& ) "S FRS4 ,"! W 2 MUSIC1
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MUSIC S.DS L M>#S ROLL+ >.D 9 A CLO!S
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  ,MY TRUE LOVE LIVES 9 ,MONTREAL4
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,MY FRS' VOICES >E />T+ 6S.D M & M
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    --,KAY ,BA%AM4

  ,! NEXT "D1 ,MON"D1 ,I VISIT MY D5TI/
9 ! MORN+1 & PRES5T HM )A LI/ (
PROC$URES & EQUIP;T T ! DEVICE
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,RESON.E ,IMAG+ 7,,MRI74 ,! LA/ "O1
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6FLOSS74
  ,I DRIVE 6MY (FICE AT ! UNIV]S;Y4 ,"!1
,I 9VE/IGATE ": ! ODD S.DS >E -+ F1 & MY
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:AT ,I HE> )A CO*LE> IMPLANT &! L[1 R\<
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YE>S )A HE>+ AID _H BE5 NO": NE> 2+ A
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IMPLANT FILL$ MY H1D ) S M* S.D1 T ,I _H
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,! NEXT "D IS MY SIX? "D S9CE TURN ON4
,I DRIVE 6A -PUT+ 3F];E1 ,,-DEX1 C.T+ \
L\D & RECIT+ ! ALPHABET 9 ! C> Z ,I
DRIVE1 J 6HE> MY NEW S.DS4 ,AT ! 3F];E1
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MY HE>+ AID4 ,I F9D MYF LI/5+ 6^WS &
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9 ? TE*NICAL AUDI;E OP5LY />+ AT MY NEW
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  ,! FOLL[+ "D M>KS "O WEEK ( LI/5+ ) MY
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T9NITUS HAS G"O1 &! SEV]E H1DA*ES T _H
PLAGU$ ME S"EAL "TS A WEEK S9CE MY E>LY
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