Aiyi Cheng

AuxiliarY DamagE

I lower my face into the pillow as if preparing for sleep, as if nothing extraordinary has happened. The gesture resembles rest, but it is also surrender to maintenance. The body regulates itself. It extracts. It absorbs. It internalizes.

Auxiliary damage is not loud. It does not announce itself as wound. It settles in the small adjustments the body makes to remain upright. The slight tightening of the jaw. The swallow that goes unnoticed. The decision not to lean too far into the blade.

SPEAK

EXTRACT

SYSTEM ENTRY

SWALLOW

CUT

LOW STATE

MAINTAIN

AFTER