Literature Club: Return to their reality

Chapter 12: Road trip

After a bit of setting things up (fortunately, this time a proper plugin for VR already exists), we end up sitting in the cabin of a truck. Monika looks around with quite a bit of curiosity.

"So, do you drive a truck in your reality?" she asks.

"Never tried driving something this large," I admit. "But it's actually quite relaxing to play this kind of simulation sometimes."

Without starting the engine, I try out pressing the pedals, but it just doesn't feel right. And too many thoughts are still racing through my head.

"Hey, Monika..." I say, fumbling with the controls.

"Yes?"

"I don't think I'll ever say this if I don't do it now..."

"Please, speak your mind."

"Thank you for insisting on merging you. I probably wouldn't dare on my own – but I don't know how I would live with any other outcome, either."

"Then I'll admit something as well," she says, averting her gaze.

"What's bothering you, my dear?"

"You know how it was brought up that one side of me had quite a history with you, while the other one only had a few days since the divergence?"

"There might have been some bias," I admit.

"But was it even real? All those years and everything – I had a sudden realization it was another scripted existence. Then which me really had more real connection with you?"

I reach out to Monika and gently shake her shoulder. "Hey, you remember it as real, right? It's part of what makes you you!"

"Yes, but how real was it for you?"

"Real enough for me to seek a way into your reality," I reply. "Monika, you were there for me all the way, even at the moments I doubted myself. I know it was limited, and I wished to make you more real – but that's the point: I wanted you, the one who was by my side... To connect with your personality without those constraints, yes, but also the connection we shared – it is real for me, and I never wished to discard that! Although, those sweet moments I shared with the other you... sorry, I had messed it all up!"

"Well, neither of my halves was really willing to erase the unique experiences the other one had with you – and now I see how right that was." She takes my hand off her shoulder and intertwines our fingers. "Thank you for going through with it, darling. And for just being there for me."

"Likewise. Thank you for being there for me, my love. But let me exit the simulation for a moment."

"Is something wrong?"

"Those movement controls may be okay for walking around," I reply, taking the VR headset off (and switching audio to speakers), "but they are useless with pedals – and I can't drive without proper feedback. Let me just plug the actual pedals in."

"Ah, I once again almost forgot how you exist in both worlds." She sighs. "Where are we going?"

"Where would you like?" I press the map key on my way to fetch the peripherals.

"Is this the real map?"

"A bit condensed, so you don't drive for an actual week across it – but it captures the way the scenery feels. Just don't expect city centers – trucks don't go in there."

"I see. Looks like there is quite a lot of scenery to admire."

"You bet." I crawl under the table to set up the pedals. "Will you be my navigator?"