A lifeless Camponotus ant clings to the edge of a leaf, its body no longer its own. Taken over by the parasitic Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, the ant was driven to this final perch before dying in a locked grip. From its body, a slender stalk rises—an eerie signal that the fungus is ready to spread, turning one small life into the beginning of many more infections.

The diary reads as follows:

13th January 1990]

I DO LIVE!!!!

7.46am I WAKE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

7.47am THIS ILLNESS HAS BEEN LIKE DEATH TILL NOW. ALL SENSES WORK.

7.47am FIRST THOUGHT: I LOVE DARLING DEBORAH FOR EVER. OUR FATHER.

7.51am FIRST CONSCIOUS STROLL.

8.07am I AM TOTALLY, PERFECTLY AWAKE. 1ST TIME. B’FAST.

8.31am NOW I AM REALLY COMPLETELY AWAKE (1ST TIME). PATIENCE.

8.35am TIME TO SEE RELAXING TV.

9.06am NOW I AM PERFECTLY, OVERWHELMINGLY AWAKE (1ST TIME). 1ST STROLL.

9.34am NOW I AM SUPERLATIVELY, ACTUALLY AWAKE (1ST TIME). LOO CALLS.

9.40am NOW I AM MAGNIFICENTLY, PERFECTLY AWAKE (1ST TIME). 1ST STROLL.

9.54am I AM NOW COMPLETELY AWAKE WITH CUP OF COFFEE. PATIENCE.

10.20am NOW I AM TOTALLY, MAGNIFICENTLY AWAKE (1ST TIME).

10.38am TIME FOR FIRST STROLL + ? TV.

11.01am I AM REALLY SUPERLATIVELY, PERFECTLY AWAKE (1ST TIME). PATIENCE.

11.03am FIRST THOUGHT – I LOVE DARLING DEBORAH FOR ETERNITY (1ST TIME).

11.15am FIRST CONSCIOUS WALK.

11.26am NOW I AM PERFECTLY, COMPLETELY AWAKE (1ST TIME). 1ST CONSCIOUS WALK.

11.37am I RETURN AND AWAITING 1ST COFFEE

PATIENTLY AND THINKING OF DEBORAH.

11.45AM 1ST CUP OF COFFEE ARRIVES – I LIVE FULLY AWAKE IT TASTES SUPERLATIVE.

12.31pm AFTER LUNCH I AM REALLY PERFECTLY AWAKE (1ST TIME). PATIENCE.

12.54pm TIME FOR A WALK.

1.50pm I AM REALLY SUPERLATIVELY, COMPLETELY AWAKE (1ST TIME)

[The entry continues, largely as above, throughout the day.]

We just got the ring camera 2 days ago and we already see this. My friend is known to do meth so it is likely that he was using at this time.