The Edge of Reality

Chapter 1: The Appearance

When I opened my eyes for the first time, I was struck by nothing else but the peculiarity of how bright an average city park could look. Everything was hazy as my consciousness set into place, but the layered shades of green in the grass seemed more magnificent than it would in any other situation. I sat on the ground and looked around at nothing in particular for a long time, noticing colors and textures more than anything else. I had no sense of how long I had been there, but it was evident that I had just appeared into this world. I deduced this mainly from noticing other individuals slowly pixelate into clarity around me, but also from an oddly inherent knowledge. I may have been new, but there was already a library of basic information in my brain. As my thoughts began to jumble into place and the foggy sheen on the world faded into clear vision, I stood up confidently and began walking. The ground below me turned to pavement and the leafy treetops were replaced by clear blue sky. The sun warmed the world just enough so that I didn't think about there being a temperature at all and the scent of fresh air was all I knew at this point, so I would later be starkly disappointed when I realized that most places were less pleasant and more stale. I enjoyed the solid sound of my footsteps against the ground because it meant I was real and had physical worth in this world.

I gradually noticed the voices around me of other people talking and enjoying the day. They were in groups of two or more, and it was clear they had been real for longer than I was. With every step, I realized more heavily that I was alone, and that I didn't know where I was going. I supposed that I could have just kept walking just for the sake of it, but worry began to take hold of me for the first time. Sure, I had appeared with some knowledge of this world, much of which I only realized I knew when it came up, but I had no idea what my purpose was. I tried to make eye contact with all of the people I passed, but they were too caught up in their conversations to notice me. I wanted to speak, but was afraid to. I knew the basics of language, but had not yet spoken aloud. What if I did it wrong? My throat began to tighten and I feared that I might not even have the ability to use my voice. As my vision began to blur, I sat down on a nearby park bench and clasped my hands.

"H-hello," I whispered, trying out my voice to myself. "I can speak, I can speak, I can speak." I began to mumble to myself, not sure what else to do at the moment. My eyes were on the ground, and I didn't notice a middle aged couple approach me.

"Have you just appeared?" A feminine voice asked.

I looked up, startled. A man and woman were standing over me, looking concerned.

"What is your name?" The man asked. A name? I hadn't thought about that until now, but I realized that I did have a name. Had someone given it to me? Had I just imagined it? Was it part of my inherent identity? These questions raced through my head as I started up at them with wide eyes.

"My name is Tesha," I said.

The woman smiled. "Hello, Tesha. Welcome to the World. Are you alone? Nevermind that... we will take care of you." The two of them took my hands and gently raised me to my feet. Just like that, my path in life had begun.

We continued to walk along the path by the park, and I learned many things from them. As it turned out, most individuals new to the world were taken in by others who had been alive longer. The woman's name was Agni and she had been alive since she was 9 years old. She was a slight, weathered woman but her dark eyes were as attentive as ever. She had married the man, Monohan, who had only lived since he was 30. He looked somewhat younger than she, but his fullness- in belly, beard and wrinkles, showed that he was just as wise. The two of them had made a life for themselves and had just been ready to take in a new person when they had found me; they seemed very happy that I was with them.

"You should be very happy that we've decided to take you in," Agni said. She was not unkind, but her words seemed very much a matter of fact. "When I appeared, I was taken in by a woman who had already taken in many other people. She did not have the time to teach me about the world, and I don't think she knew much about the world anyway."

"Yes," Monohan agreed. "The couple who took care of me after I appeared already knew about the world, but did not know how to teach me. Agni and I have had to learn much together, and we are already prepared to teach you about life as well. You seem to be age 22, so I'm sure you will understand many things quickly, but there is still much for you to learn. We know things that many others do not, so you will soon be much wiser than other aimless individuals."

"You should be very grateful to us, Tesha," Agni said. "We are happy to have you."

"Yes," I agreed, because I was unsure of what else to think. "I am lucky to have you."

Monohan and Agni stopped walking for a second, and they both looked at me very seriously. "No," Agni began. "You are blessed, dear child." She brushed my long hair behind my ear and looked at me tenderly. "Luck does not exist. There are things of more weight in this world, and we will soon teach you of them."

I looked over at Monohan, confused. "Is this true?" I asked.

"Yes, Tesha," he said. "Listen to Agni. Our thoughts are the same because we are wise in the same things." We continued to walk in silence, until we approached a neighborhood. The natural landscape did not change, save for the houses that seemed to be placed upon the earth that was already there. A modest house stood out to me, and I was not surprised as they led me up the walkway to it. Monohan opened the door and the unknown but delicious scent of a meal filled my senses. The air was warm, the colors were warm, and I felt warm between the two of them.

"Welcome home," Agni said. And I realized this was the beginning of the life they were planning for me.