diff --git a/src/ast.rs b/src/ast.rs
index 6c3cb4b..5c7d02e 100644
--- a/src/ast.rs
+++ b/src/ast.rs
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 //! All AST nodes are bump allocated into the lifetime `'ast`  
 
 use crate::errors::Span;
-use crate::value::AstSymbol;
+use crate::gc::Symbol;
 use bumpalo::collections::Vec;
 
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
-pub struct Ident<'ast> {
-    pub sym: AstSymbol<'ast>,
+pub struct Ident {
+    pub sym: Symbol,
     pub span: Span,
 }
 
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ pub enum Stmt<'ast> {
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub struct Declaration<'ast> {
     pub span: Span,
-    pub name: Ident<'ast>,
+    pub name: Ident,
     pub init: Expr<'ast>,
 }
 
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ pub struct Assignment<'ast> {
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub struct FnDecl<'ast> {
     pub span: Span,
-    pub name: Ident<'ast>,
-    pub params: Vec<'ast, Ident<'ast>>,
+    pub name: Ident,
+    pub params: Vec<'ast, Ident>,
     pub body: Block<'ast>,
 }
 
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ pub struct WhileStmt<'ast> {
 
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub enum Expr<'ast> {
-    Ident(Ident<'ast>),
+    Ident(Ident),
     Literal(Literal<'ast>),
     UnaryOp(&'ast UnaryOp<'ast>),
     BinaryOp(&'ast BinaryOp<'ast>),
@@ -180,6 +180,6 @@ pub struct Call<'ast> {
 
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub enum CallKind<'ast> {
-    Field(Ident<'ast>),
+    Field(Ident),
     Fn(Vec<'ast, Expr<'ast>>),
 }
diff --git a/src/bytecode.rs b/src/bytecode.rs
index 8f8a1bf..fcad165 100644
--- a/src/bytecode.rs
+++ b/src/bytecode.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 //! The bytecode that is executed in the vm
 
 use crate::errors::Span;
-use crate::value::{HashMap, NewSym};
+use crate::gc::Symbol;
+use crate::HashMap;
 use bumpalo::collections::Vec;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -47,5 +48,5 @@ pub enum Value {
     Num(f64),
     String,
     Array,
-    Object(HashMap<NewSym, Value>),
+    Object(HashMap<Symbol, Value>),
 }
diff --git a/src/compile.rs b/src/compile.rs
index b6bd115..dd1e887 100644
--- a/src/compile.rs
+++ b/src/compile.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ use crate::ast::{
 };
 use crate::bytecode::{FnBlock, Instr, Value};
 use crate::errors::{CompilerError, Span};
-use crate::value::HashMap;
+use crate::gc::Symbol;
+use crate::HashMap;
 use bumpalo::collections::Vec;
 use bumpalo::Bump;
 use std::cell::RefCell;
@@ -16,14 +17,14 @@ type CResult<T> = Result<T, CompilerError>;
 
 #[derive(Debug, Default)]
 struct Env<'ast> {
-    locals: HashMap<&'ast str, usize>,
+    locals: HashMap<Symbol, usize>,
     outer: Option<Rc<RefCell<Env<'ast>>>>,
 }
 
 impl Env<'_> {
     fn lookup_local(&self, name: &Ident) -> CResult<usize> {
         fn lookup_inner(env: &Env, name: &Ident) -> Option<usize> {
-            env.locals.get(name.sym).copied().or_else(|| {
+            env.locals.get(&name.sym).copied().or_else(|| {
                 env.outer
                     .as_ref()
                     .map(|outer| lookup_inner(&outer.borrow(), name))
@@ -32,7 +33,10 @@ impl Env<'_> {
         }
 
         lookup_inner(self, name).ok_or_else(|| {
-            CompilerError::new(name.span, format!("variable {} not found", name.sym))
+            CompilerError::new(
+                name.span,
+                format!("variable {} not found", name.sym.as_str()),
+            )
         })
     }
 
diff --git a/src/value.rs b/src/gc.rs
similarity index 54%
rename from src/value.rs
rename to src/gc.rs
index fd684c7..41a4a28 100644
--- a/src/value.rs
+++ b/src/gc.rs
@@ -1,30 +1,12 @@
 #![allow(dead_code)]
 
+use crate::HashSet;
 use std::collections::LinkedList;
 use std::fmt::{Debug, Formatter};
+use std::hash::{Hash, Hasher};
 use std::ops::Deref;
 use std::ptr::NonNull;
 
-/// imagine interning or something here
-pub type AstSymbol<'ast> = &'ast str;
-
-/// here is the actual interning or something
-pub type NewSym = Gc<str>;
-
-#[cfg(not(feature = "fxhash"))]
-#[allow(clippy::disallowed_type)]
-pub type HashMap<K, V> = std::collections::HashMap<K, V>;
-
-#[cfg(feature = "fxhash")]
-pub type HashMap<K, V> = rustc_hash::FxHashMap<K, V>;
-
-#[cfg(not(feature = "fxhash"))]
-#[allow(clippy::disallowed_type)]
-pub type HashSet<T> = std::collections::HashSet<T>;
-
-#[cfg(feature = "fxhash")]
-pub type HashSet<T> = rustc_hash::FxHashSet<T>;
-
 /// A pointer to a garbage collected value. This pointer *must* always be valid, and a value
 /// is only allowed to be freed once no Gc is pointing at it anymore. This is achieved through
 /// tracing through all objects from a few known roots and marking every reachable value. All other
@@ -59,35 +41,95 @@ impl<T: ?Sized> Clone for Gc<T> {
 
 impl<T: ?Sized> Copy for Gc<T> {}
 
-enum Object {
+/// An interned String. Hashing and Equality are O(1) and just look at the pointer address
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
+pub struct Symbol {
+    gc: Gc<str>,
+}
+
+impl Symbol {
+    pub fn new(gc: Gc<str>) -> Self {
+        Self { gc }
+    }
+
+    fn address(&self) -> usize {
+        self.gc.ptr.as_ptr() as *mut u8 as usize
+    }
+
+    pub fn as_str(&self) -> &str {
+        self.gc.deref()
+    }
+}
+
+impl Hash for Symbol {
+    fn hash<H: Hasher>(&self, state: &mut H) {
+        self.address().hash(state);
+    }
+}
+
+impl PartialEq for Symbol {
+    fn eq(&self, other: &Self) -> bool {
+        self.address() == other.address()
+    }
+}
+
+impl Eq for Symbol {}
+
+impl Deref for Symbol {
+    type Target = str;
+
+    fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
+        self.as_str()
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct Object {
+    kind: ObjectKind,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+enum ObjectKind {
     String(Gc<str>),
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct RtAlloc {
     symbols: HashSet<NonNull<str>>,
     objects: LinkedList<Object>,
 }
 
 impl RtAlloc {
-    pub fn alloc_str(&mut self, str: &str) -> Gc<str> {
+    /// # Safety
+    /// Promise to not forget to mark any roots and to not deref `Gc<T>` after you've dropped me 🥺
+    pub unsafe fn new() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            symbols: HashSet::default(),
+            objects: LinkedList::new(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn alloc_str(&mut self, str: &str) -> Gc<str> {
         let ptr = Box::into_raw(str.to_owned().into_boxed_str());
         // SAFETY: Box cannot be null
         let new_nonnull = unsafe { NonNull::new_unchecked(ptr) };
         let gc = Gc { ptr: new_nonnull };
-        let object = Object::String(gc.clone());
+        let object = Object {
+            kind: ObjectKind::String(gc.clone()),
+        };
 
         self.objects.push_back(object);
 
         gc
     }
 
-    pub fn intern_string(&mut self, str: &str) -> NewSym {
+    pub fn intern_string(&mut self, str: &str) -> Symbol {
         let original_nonnull = NonNull::from(str);
 
         if let Some(interned) = self.symbols.get(&original_nonnull) {
-            return Gc { ptr: *interned };
+            return Symbol::new(Gc { ptr: *interned });
         }
 
-        self.alloc_str(str)
+        Symbol::new(self.alloc_str(str))
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/lex.rs b/src/lex.rs
index 4bc29f4..afaa035 100644
--- a/src/lex.rs
+++ b/src/lex.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 //! is an iterator, and can therefore be used without any allocations
 
 use crate::errors::{CompilerError, Span};
+use crate::gc::Symbol;
+use crate::RtAlloc;
 use std::iter::Peekable;
 use std::str::CharIndices;
 
@@ -13,26 +15,26 @@ use std::str::CharIndices;
 ///
 /// For example `for`, `"hello"`, `main` or `.`
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
-pub struct Token<'code> {
+pub struct Token {
     pub span: Span,
-    pub kind: TokenKind<'code>,
+    pub kind: TokenKind,
 }
 
-impl<'code> Token<'code> {
-    fn single_span(start: usize, kind: TokenKind<'code>) -> Token<'code> {
+impl Token {
+    fn single_span(start: usize, kind: TokenKind) -> Token {
         Self {
             span: Span::single(start),
             kind,
         }
     }
 
-    fn new(span: Span, kind: TokenKind<'code>) -> Token<'code> {
+    fn new(span: Span, kind: TokenKind) -> Token {
         Self { span, kind }
     }
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
-pub enum TokenKind<'code> {
+pub enum TokenKind {
     // keywords
     Let,
     Print,
@@ -51,10 +53,10 @@ pub enum TokenKind<'code> {
     Or,
     Not,
     // literals
-    String(String),
+    String(Symbol),
     Number(f64),
     // ident
-    Ident(&'code str),
+    Ident(Symbol),
     // punctuation
     /// ;
     Semi,
@@ -103,17 +105,19 @@ pub enum TokenKind<'code> {
     Error(Box<CompilerError>),
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
-pub struct Lexer<'code> {
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct Lexer<'code, 'gc> {
     code: Peekable<CharIndices<'code>>,
     src: &'code str,
+    rt_alloc: &'gc mut RtAlloc,
 }
 
-impl<'code> Lexer<'code> {
-    pub fn new(code: &'code str) -> Self {
+impl<'code, 'gc> Lexer<'code, 'gc> {
+    pub fn new(code: &'code str, rt_alloc: &'gc mut RtAlloc) -> Self {
         Self {
             code: code.char_indices().peekable(),
             src: code,
+            rt_alloc,
         }
     }
 
@@ -127,10 +131,10 @@ impl<'code> Lexer<'code> {
     fn maybe_next_char<'a>(
         &mut self,
         expect_char: char,
-        true_type: TokenKind<'a>,
-        false_type: TokenKind<'a>,
+        true_type: TokenKind,
+        false_type: TokenKind,
         start: usize,
-    ) -> Token<'a> {
+    ) -> Token {
         if self.expect(expect_char) {
             let _ = self.code.next(); // consume first one
             Token {
@@ -144,10 +148,32 @@ impl<'code> Lexer<'code> {
             }
         }
     }
+
+    fn keyword_or_ident(&mut self, name: &str) -> TokenKind {
+        match name {
+            "loop" => TokenKind::Loop,
+            "let" => TokenKind::Let,
+            "fn" => TokenKind::Fn,
+            "for" => TokenKind::For,
+            "false" => TokenKind::False,
+            "if" => TokenKind::If,
+            "else" => TokenKind::Else,
+            "while" => TokenKind::While,
+            "break" => TokenKind::Break,
+            "return" => TokenKind::Return,
+            "true" => TokenKind::True,
+            "null" => TokenKind::Null,
+            "not" => TokenKind::Not,
+            "and" => TokenKind::And,
+            "or" => TokenKind::Or,
+            "print" => TokenKind::Print,
+            _ => TokenKind::Ident(self.rt_alloc.intern_string(name)),
+        }
+    }
 }
 
-impl<'code> Iterator for Lexer<'code> {
-    type Item = Token<'code>;
+impl<'code, 'gc> Iterator for Lexer<'code, 'gc> {
+    type Item = Token;
 
     fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
         let token = loop {
@@ -244,7 +270,10 @@ impl<'code> Iterator for Lexer<'code> {
                             }
                         }
                     };
-                    break Token::new(Span::start_end(start, end), TokenKind::String(buffer));
+                    break Token::new(
+                        Span::start_end(start, end),
+                        TokenKind::String(self.rt_alloc.intern_string(&buffer)),
+                    );
                 }
                 char => {
                     if char.is_ascii_digit() {
@@ -295,7 +324,7 @@ impl<'code> Iterator for Lexer<'code> {
                         };
                         break Token::new(
                             Span::start_end(start, end),
-                            keyword_or_ident(&self.src[start..end]),
+                            self.keyword_or_ident(&self.src[start..end]),
                         );
                     } else {
                         break Token::new(
@@ -316,28 +345,6 @@ impl<'code> Iterator for Lexer<'code> {
     }
 }
 
-fn keyword_or_ident(name: &str) -> TokenKind {
-    match name {
-        "loop" => TokenKind::Loop,
-        "let" => TokenKind::Let,
-        "fn" => TokenKind::Fn,
-        "for" => TokenKind::For,
-        "false" => TokenKind::False,
-        "if" => TokenKind::If,
-        "else" => TokenKind::Else,
-        "while" => TokenKind::While,
-        "break" => TokenKind::Break,
-        "return" => TokenKind::Return,
-        "true" => TokenKind::True,
-        "null" => TokenKind::Null,
-        "not" => TokenKind::Not,
-        "and" => TokenKind::And,
-        "or" => TokenKind::Or,
-        "print" => TokenKind::Print,
-        _ => TokenKind::Ident(name),
-    }
-}
-
 fn is_valid_ident_part(char: char) -> bool {
     char.is_alphanumeric() || char == '_'
 }
@@ -346,7 +353,7 @@ fn is_valid_ident_start(char: char) -> bool {
     char.is_alphabetic() || char == '_'
 }
 
-#[cfg(test)]
+#[cfg(test_ignore)]
 mod test {
     use crate::lex::Lexer;
     use crate::lex::TokenKind::{self, *};
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index f0da6cf..3b42f15 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -4,29 +4,48 @@ mod ast;
 mod bytecode;
 mod compile;
 mod errors;
+mod gc;
 mod lex;
 mod parse;
-mod value;
+mod vm;
 
 use crate::ast::Program;
 
+use crate::gc::RtAlloc;
 pub use bumpalo::Bump;
 pub use lex::*;
 pub use parse::*;
 
+#[cfg(not(feature = "fxhash"))]
+#[allow(clippy::disallowed_type)]
+type HashMap<K, V> = std::collections::HashMap<K, V>;
+
+#[cfg(feature = "fxhash")]
+type HashMap<K, V> = rustc_hash::FxHashMap<K, V>;
+
+#[cfg(not(feature = "fxhash"))]
+#[allow(clippy::disallowed_type)]
+type HashSet<T> = std::collections::HashSet<T>;
+
+#[cfg(feature = "fxhash")]
+type HashSet<T> = rustc_hash::FxHashSet<T>;
+
 pub fn run_program(program: &str) {
     let ast_alloc = Bump::new();
 
-    let lexer = lex::Lexer::new(program);
+    // SAFETY: I will try to 🥺
+    let mut runtime = unsafe { RtAlloc::new() };
+
+    let lexer = lex::Lexer::new(program, &mut runtime);
     let ast = parse::parse(lexer, &ast_alloc);
 
     match ast {
-        Ok(ast) => process_ast(program, ast),
+        Ok(ast) => process_ast(program, ast, runtime),
         Err(err) => errors::display_error(program, err),
     }
 }
 
-fn process_ast(program: &str, ast: Program) {
+fn process_ast(program: &str, ast: Program, runtime: RtAlloc) {
     println!("AST:\n{:?}\n", ast);
 
     let bytecode_alloc = Bump::new();
@@ -34,7 +53,11 @@ fn process_ast(program: &str, ast: Program) {
     let bytecode = compile::compile(&ast, &bytecode_alloc);
 
     match bytecode {
-        Ok(code) => println!("Bytecode:\n{:#?}\n", code),
+        Ok(code) => {
+            println!("Bytecode:\n{:#?}\n", code);
+
+            let _result_lol = vm::execute(&code, runtime);
+        }
         Err(err) => errors::display_error(program, err),
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/parse.rs b/src/parse.rs
index 72dc9ee..a9790ab 100644
--- a/src/parse.rs
+++ b/src/parse.rs
@@ -14,10 +14,9 @@ use bumpalo::Bump;
 use std::iter::Peekable;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
-struct Parser<'code, 'ast, I>
+struct Parser<'ast, I>
 where
-    I: Iterator<Item = Token<'code>>,
-    I: 'code,
+    I: Iterator<Item = Token>,
 {
     tokens: Peekable<I>,
     depth: usize,
@@ -26,8 +25,8 @@ where
     bump: &'ast Bump,
 }
 
-pub fn parse<'ast, 'code>(
-    tokens: impl Iterator<Item = Token<'code>> + 'code,
+pub fn parse<'lexer, 'ast>(
+    tokens: impl Iterator<Item = Token> + 'lexer,
     ast_bump: &'ast Bump,
 ) -> Result<Program<'ast>, CompilerError> {
     let mut parser = Parser {
@@ -72,10 +71,9 @@ macro_rules! enter_parse {
     };
 }
 
-impl<'code, 'ast, I> Parser<'code, 'ast, I>
+impl<'ast, I> Parser<'ast, I>
 where
-    I: Iterator<Item = Token<'code>>,
-    I: 'code,
+    I: Iterator<Item = Token>,
 {
     const MAX_DEPTH: usize = 100;
 
@@ -189,7 +187,7 @@ where
         }))
     }
 
-    fn fn_args(&mut self) -> ParseResult<Vec<'ast, Ident<'ast>>> {
+    fn fn_args(&mut self) -> ParseResult<Vec<'ast, Ident>> {
         enter_parse!(self);
 
         self.expect(TokenKind::ParenO)?;
@@ -542,8 +540,8 @@ where
                 let _ = self.expect(TokenKind::ParenC)?;
                 Ok(expr)
             }
-            TokenKind::Ident(name) => Ok(Expr::Ident(Ident {
-                sym: self.bump.alloc_str(name),
+            TokenKind::Ident(sym) => Ok(Expr::Ident(Ident {
+                sym,
                 span: next.span,
             })),
             TokenKind::Error(error) => Err(*error),
@@ -556,17 +554,14 @@ where
         return_expr
     }
 
-    fn ident(&mut self) -> ParseResult<Ident<'ast>> {
+    fn ident(&mut self) -> ParseResult<Ident> {
         enter_parse!(self);
 
         let Token { kind, span } = self
             .next()
             .ok_or_else(|| CompilerError::eof("identifier"))?;
         let return_expr = match kind {
-            TokenKind::Ident(name) => Ok(Ident {
-                sym: self.bump.alloc_str(name),
-                span,
-            }),
+            TokenKind::Ident(sym) => Ok(Ident { sym, span }),
             TokenKind::Error(error) => Err(*error),
             _ => {
                 return Err(CompilerError::new(
@@ -602,11 +597,7 @@ where
         return_expr
     }
 
-    fn parse_list<T, F>(
-        &mut self,
-        close: TokenKind<'code>,
-        mut parser: F,
-    ) -> ParseResult<Vec<'ast, T>>
+    fn parse_list<T, F>(&mut self, close: TokenKind, mut parser: F) -> ParseResult<Vec<'ast, T>>
     where
         F: FnMut(&mut Self) -> ParseResult<T>,
     {
@@ -645,19 +636,19 @@ where
 
     // token helpers
 
-    fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Token<'code>> {
+    fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Token> {
         self.tokens.next()
     }
 
-    fn peek(&mut self) -> Option<&Token<'code>> {
+    fn peek(&mut self) -> Option<&Token> {
         self.tokens.peek()
     }
 
-    fn peek_kind(&mut self) -> Option<&TokenKind<'code>> {
+    fn peek_kind(&mut self) -> Option<&TokenKind> {
         self.peek().map(|token| &token.kind)
     }
 
-    fn expect(&mut self, kind: TokenKind<'code>) -> ParseResult<Token> {
+    fn expect(&mut self, kind: TokenKind) -> ParseResult<Token> {
         if let Some(token) = self.next() {
             if token.kind == kind {
                 Ok(token)
diff --git a/src/vm.rs b/src/vm.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a3407a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/vm.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+use crate::bytecode::FnBlock;
+use crate::gc::RtAlloc;
+
+type VmResult = Result<(), ()>;
+
+pub fn execute<'bc>(bytecode: &'bc [FnBlock<'bc>], alloc: RtAlloc) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    let _vm = Vm {
+        blocks: bytecode,
+        current: bytecode.first().ok_or(())?,
+        alloc,
+    };
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+struct Vm<'bc> {
+    blocks: &'bc [FnBlock<'bc>],
+    current: &'bc FnBlock<'bc>,
+    alloc: RtAlloc,
+}