it starts as an imitation of something real. and since we are talking about
something real, here’s a theory. when you are the parts and not the sum,
maybe you are the closest to real. one of the fundamentals of calculus,
the mean value theorem states that if a function is continuous on a closed
interval and differentiable on an open interval, for at least an instant
the function will travel at its average speed.

so on the highway traveling at infinity, the bridge over the glowing river
at zero, we travel at the speed of light, or something faster than that.
after all, the average of infinity remains infinity. but like all theorems,
this one has its exceptions: there can be no gaps, and there can be no
fine points. if we’re traveling at infinity, what’s a gap but another
synonym for eternity? now that we are three lines from the end and finally,
something real, there is no reason to stop. if we did, that’d just be hitting
the brakes at the speed of infinity.

you don’t need me to tell you how that would go.