I Felt As Though Someone Else Was Behind Me, And That I Myself Was Always Assuming Some Pose Or Other.

I felt as though someone else was behind me, and that I myself was always assuming some pose or other. I would comment on my every gesture, no matter how slight, as if I were standing beside my own self. Now he’s perplexed and is just looking at his palm - that’s what I would say. Or maybe - He muttered something now while scratching behind his ear. Because of this habit, I could no longer act on the spur of the moment, as one less aware of himself would.

Dazai Osamu, “Memories” from Crackling Mountain and Other Stories