diff --git a/src/morse_engine.py b/src/morse_engine.py
index 3fca079b56df283f045bb0c2e4e67715d608a352..a561aafceffd45edbf61888ad369464cb2a87a0c 100644
--- a/src/morse_engine.py
+++ b/src/morse_engine.py
@@ -49,14 +49,12 @@ def run_morse_engine(apds, pixels, touch):
         pixels: LED controller object.
         touch: touch sensor for confirming input.
     """
-    down = None  # Time when proximity sensor was first triggered
-    elapsed = 0  # Duration proximity sensor has been triggered
-    message = ""  # Translated part of message
-    letter = ""  # Dots and dashes of current (unfinished) letter
+    morse = ""                # Dots, dashs, and slashes so far
+    start = time.monotonic()  # Time when proximity sensor was first triggered
 
     # Main loop
     while True:
         if touch.value:
             print("Touched!")
-
-        print(message, letter, "<==")
+        print("the message should be here", "<==")
+