The Identity Contribution By Soren James

In the event of my death, I had decided to offer my identity to medical science for them to do with as they pleased. I believed my identity would be of some interest, as I’d spent nearly a whole lifetime of appreciation in the confines of this individuality — and not once tired of the experience.

Those bastards on 5^th Avenue chose to decline my magnanimous proposition, advising that if I wanted to offer my identity anywhere, there was a philosopher in Lower Manhattan who collected such things.

So, after the event of my actual death, I ferried myself down to this Lower Manhattan philosopher, who proved rather dismissive: saying that I was merely a construct of words, feelings, and outdated concepts. She instead recommended I take myself to a priest in Midtown Manhattan — one who dealt secretly in matters of the dead and other vagaries.

On introducing myself to this religious peddler, I was looked up and down contemptuously, only to discover that he didn’t believe I really existed! I swore blind that I did, and even laid before him an intricate network of beliefs and ideas I’d collected — by way of evidence of life.

The bastard priest remained unconvinced and suggested I try the mystic somewhere just to the north of his apartment.

I took my increasingly frail self north, and there introduced myself to the mystic, who implied that I was a little too wishy-washy for their outfit and informed me that perhaps I might try a writer on the Upper West Side.

I introduced myself to said writer, telling him my story. He said, yeah, why not, I’m stuck for ideas.

It’s not much of an existence, imprisoned behind these few words, but it’s the best identity I could get in today’s competitive market.

© 2014 Soren James

Soren James is a writer and visual artist who recreates himself on a daily basis from the materials at his disposal, continuing to do so in upbeat manner until one day he will sumptuously throw his drained materials aside and resume stillness without asking why. More of his work can be seen here: http://sorenjames.moonfruit.com/

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