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The Curtain - Void

I don't know how long I cried. Time had a weird sense of presence here. It felt like days, but it was also over in a moment.

Curled up in a fetal position, my eyes felt like they'd been through a marathon of hay fever and fists.

I blinked my eyes open and made to stand up, before realising I couldn't see anything.

That's right, I'm not even sure I have eyes. I thought, a phantom feeling of glancing down at my body. I'm not even sure I have an.. anything.

It wasn't just the 'who' I was struggling to keep track of in my situation, but 'when', 'where' and 'how' all lacked any significant answers.

Might as well add 'what' to that list, too. Am I even human?

All of my memories felt human. At least, the majority of my memories had a consistent personality behind them. They just felt so distant, and vague. Despite the strong sense of ownership over those memories, I couldn't parse any actual details. It seemed like I wasn't allowed to know who I really was. Maybe that was the point.

It was moments like these it felt like I was supposed to reflect on the memory I'd just been through, short and sweet as it was. After getting swept up in the aftershocks of the experience, I seemed to get a grace period where I could actually think without penalty.

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That's an odd thought. Penalties.

Why was I here, just to suffer? I felt a dry chuckle escape my lips, though I'm not sure I heard any sound.

Instead, I found myself pondering my own situation more and more. The recent memory was just too painful. What a horrible thing to give someone only to take it away. Punishment made the most sense, in that context.

At the same time. Her arms were so warm. I paused.

Apparently I wasn't done crying just yet.

Despite the overwhelming feeling of loss, it was strangely cathartic, crying over something I probably never had. I couldn't remember another memory brimming with so much ... love.

Wherever they are, I hope they're still happy. They felt like they deserved as much.

A growing sense of approval suffused the space around me, I wasn't sure it came from me, but I couldn't wipe the feeling of a smile from my face. Remembering the lovebirds and their contentment to while away their mornings.

Slowly, the recent experience shifted from something I had had, and then lost, into something more like a piece of art. Viewing it gave me all of the same impressions, and was just as vivid, but I no longer felt directly involved. I could witness their love from the outside.

The building sense of separation was bitter sweet.

Who wouldn't want something like that. I thought. But at least I know it isn't something I've lost.

All too soon a sense of tiredness overcame me, and my awareness was beginning to slip. Apparently I had learned what I was supposed to and was being made to move on.

Hopefully no more memories of things I never had. I felt my awareness spike for a moment, as I desperately tried to recall where that feeling had come from. I felt so sure of the notion, I just had no idea why.

As the nothingness took hold, I struggled to figure out if I could truly remember anything about myself. Whoever I was.