“I don’t think I’ll be able to get out of this virtual cozy hellscape. Not because it’d be impossible, but because of how much of me has been lost. I think that the only reason why I’m still together is because of the programming that’s been applied to me here. I think that if I tried to get back now, then it would be like...”

I swallowed involuntarily, thanks to my drying mouth, supplying a metaphor of my own. “Would you say it would be like being set through a meat grinder?”

“I don't quite think so, but that's a good enough guess,” said Sasha.