Prologue
"I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten."
Nicholas Sparks
There was nothing ever particularly special about me. I led a relatively normal and ordinary life right up until my death. Have you ever woken up from sleeping and thought, "Am I still dreaming?"
That’s how it started for me. I was on my way home after a long day of work. Dusk had fallen and the sky was turning when I hit the ice. I must have driven past the slow down sign 1000 times before and as usual, I did.
Hitting the brakes as I came up to the corner. Unfortunately, that is when I hit the ice. The car spun. Like the ice I froze, unable to move as the car careened out of control. Pushed into the side of the car I felt it shudder as it pressed through the barrier before flipping off the side of the road and over the side of the cliff. It was a long way down.
. . .
Drifting out of the depths of unconsciousness, I think I’m alone.
. . .
Tuntun, tuntun. I can feel my heartbeat as if I’m underwater.
. . .
Tuntun, tuntun. We all die alone, the thought comes unprompted.
. . .
Tuntun, tuntun. But it turns out I’m not alone, Lub dub.
. . .
My heart is racing but it keeps time with another.
. . .
Lub dub,
. . .
Tuntun, tuntun, tuntun,
. . .
lub dub.
. . .
Moving slower than mine but they still beat in time together.
. . .
Once more from the pit of oblivion, I think therefore I am, tuntun, tuntun.
. . .
My heart beats therefore I’m alive, tuntun, tuntun. I feel no pain
. . .
so . . . either I’m injured beyond belief . . . or I’m fine?
. . .
Have you ever woken up from dreaming and found yourself unable to move?
. . .
Was that what seemed to be happening here . . .
. . .
I just need to wait. I would either awake or fall back into nothingness.
. . .
Lub dub,
. . .
tuntun, tuntun, tuntun,
. . .
lub dub.
. . .
Slowly swimming up out of my stupor, I open my eyes but all I can see is an orange glow. Waking to the warmth I seem to be floating and can hear more than a heartbeat. I am surrounded by sound. A humming fills my head and my heart beats in time. The notes rise and fall, the lullaby already unknowingly remembered, and soothed, I once more fall to sleep.
. . .
Ding. Sentience recognised. User interface enabled.
Level 0
Experience: 0/100
Health: 10/10 Stamina: 10/10 Mana 10/10
Vitality: 1
Endurance: 0
Strength: 0
Dexterity: 0
Senses: 0
Mind: 44
Clarity: 0
Magic: 1
Skills:
That’s new.
. . .
Am I awake or . . . am I still dreaming?