West of Reality

Chapter 2

Dan, excited by the materials appearing before them, glanced over at the table belonging to the woman he stood by. Her gear was similar to his, just as Claire had said, but the style had a Victorian flair—polished brass buckles, leather straps, and lace trim that reminded him of another era.

Huh, fascinating he thought before deciding to break the ice, "Can you believe this?" He gestured his journal, then turned it over in his hands—running his fingers over the embossed leather. "I've been dreaming about this for months. Everything is better than I imagined. Especially the 'move' into this place. I really thought the transition would feel... weirder.. I guess?" He chuckled, flipping through the blank pages. "But it's all felt so real, almost too real."

He looked up, "my name's Dan!"

The woman surprisingly smiled, although faintly. She adjusted the brim of her hat before replying, "Nancy. Yeah, they really nailed the details." Her voice was steady, but Dan noticed a slight tremble in her hands as she opened a small, ornate compass. She had the air of someone who was just told to act natural. "It's everything I was hoping for, I guess."

"You don't seem very excited." He motioned to the group—all talking loudly, admiring their new gear. "What's holding you back? Nerves?"

Her smile faltered, just for a moment, before she tucked the compass away into her coat. "No, I'm happy. Really. It's just..." She trailed off, adjusting the straps on her bag, avoiding the question. "Leaving everything behind... It's a lot to process. It's not strange or anything. In fact I think it's pretty normal to find this difficult." She sharply cut her words off in agitation.

Dan frowned, still sensing something unsaid, but recognizing that he was being impolite to a complete stranger. "Sorry, yeah, I get that. Totally..." he said a bit too hastily. "But we're free now, right? Isn't that what this is all about? A fresh start at something amazing?"

Her eyes flicked up to meet his, and for a brief second, her expression softened—guarded, but honest. She gazed back down at her compass, and sighed "Free. You're right." Her nerves showed once again, despite her attempt to hide them. Not wanting to pry any further, Dan pretended not to notice. When their eyes met again, she snapped the compass shut with an unsettling familiarity. As though she'd had it her entire life. Did the program give some people items they had in their previous lives? That wouldn't be suspicious, he supposed.

"It's beautiful," Dan said awkwardly, pointing toward the compass, trying to keep the conversation going despite the tension. Even though Nancy was guarded, he liked her already. He hoped he hadn't just ruined any chance at a friendship with her.

"Thanks," Nancy replied, forlorn, then turned back to her packing with more haste than before.

Shit

Dan stepped back to his table and quietly secured his bedroll then strapped it to his back. Silence hung between them, leaving him deflated. He pried too much, he knew. He glanced at Nancy now and then as she packed, the weight of the moment building. Pressure built up in Dan's chest as he wrestled with himself, debating whether he should try to fix the awkward tension that had just settled between him and Nancy. The air felt thick, and each heartbeat echoed in his ears, amplifying his uncertainty about how to bridge the gap that had formed. He recognized that he was being selfish in his desire to resolve things, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that it would be in bad taste to leave their first conversation hanging in the air like this. The thought of walking away without addressing the tension gnawed at him, a reminder that connections—however fragile—were worth nurturing. Finally, he took the shot:

"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I know I can be a bit much. I just..." Nancy glanced over at him, her brow furrowing as annoyance flickered in her eyes. "I get excited... and it feels good to share that with someone. And that's selfish behavior, so... Just, I'm sorry. And I'll leave you alone from here on out." Dan finished by giving her an affirming nod before turning to his things, waiting to leave.