Summary

In Chapter 1, Antonio describes his childhood as having times when he had an occasional “strange” feeling in which he felt detached but with sensory overload, unable to filter the outside stimuli that assaulted him. He challenges the reader to be very aware of every sound and sensation at this moment, down to breathing and digestive “gurgling.” The feeling was unpleasant, but he never told anyone, noting that as a child it is sometimes unclear what is normal. Antonio was at his friend Ernesto's house one day when he had one of these episodes, but this one was more intense because he fainted. Ernesto's mother called Antonio's mother. Antonio explained about the feelings he was experiencing, though he had a limited means of explaining them. His parents are separated, and his father seldom comes to the apartment where Antonio and his mother live. However...