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He was back on Reddit, with everything forgiven, his cakeday post showered in gold. He was in the Ars Technica comments, making puns about Mars rovers. He was walking down the white-tiled corridor, with the feeling of walking in sunlight, and a Nintendo Switch in his hand. The long hoped-for needle was entering his arm.

He gazed up at the enormous face. Sixteen years it had taken him to learn what kind of smile was hidden by the featureless oval. O cruel, needless misunderstanding! O stubborn, self-willed exile from the rational breast! Two Soylent-scented tears trickled down the sides of his nose. But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved XKCD.