1984

           Thefirststephadbeenasecret,involuntarythought,thesecondhadbeentheopeningofthediary. Hehadmovedfromthoughtstowords,andnowfromwordstoactions. ThelaststepwassomethingthatwouldhappenintheMinistryofLove. Hehadacceptedit. Theendwascontainedinthebeginning. Butitwasfrightening:or,moreexactly,itwaslikeaforetasteofdeath,likebeingalittlelessalive. EvenwhilehewasspeakingtoO’Brien,whenthemeaningofthewordshadsunkin,achillyshudderingfeelinghadtakenpossessionofhisbody. Hehadthesensationofsteppingintothedampnessofagrave,anditwasnotmuchbetterbecausehehadalwaysknownthatthegravewasthereandwaitingforhim.