Friday night I settled down for a bit of GNE only to 404 at the gate. Ever hopeful, I tried again a bit later to find “0 players online.” Login, refresh, “1 players online.” Wind howled through the forest, pins dropped with booming echo in Civic Center. I was alone one minute, two minutes. GOD mentioned something about papers blue. Refueled by more than a few yerba mates, I hit the road in search of desire. Sheep called in the distance and water lapped the shores as I sat alone in the world, just me and my GOD. Paradise found? Hardly. Chatboard empty, bisque for one — a lonely place indeed.

Enter Toru. Saved.