Changing lives constantly: The main

Prologue

Prologue

Darkness.

Light.

I have never longed for light no more than l have right now. Light used to be something l took for granted. Light shone brightly when l was alive and even when l was dead. Light still shined brightly. Now, however, there is no light, there is only nothingness. Sometimes, it makes me feel like l am nothing. I was part of nothingness so logically l am nothing. There was nothing to do in this space and l spent my time staring at the darkness. No movements, nothing. Sometimes l reminisced about my old life. The small worries l used to have when l was younger and even on the edge of adulthood. How much money would l make? Where would l go to work? What do l want to achieve in my life before death? All these used to set my heart on fire and give me a purpose to live. Back then, l had life.

Right now, however, there is nothing for to have in death. After death, l still had some life unlike others. World-hopping gave me a purpose. I helped dead people fulfil their dreams and they helped me fill my emptiness and lack of passion. But now, l have none of that. Do you know how empty my life feels? It has been or rather it has felt like years since l saw a human being. 'Am l still human?' But do l have to be human anymore, there is no point. I feel like it may be time to give in to the darkness. Become one with the darkness and fade away.

'It is time'.

Startled, l tried to move and see who said that, completely forgetting that l could not move right now. Using my eyes, l looked into the darkness, scrutinising it for any sign of the person who spoke or any life at all. You may think that l could have noticed someone since l was staring at darkness all the time. But staring does not mean focusing. 'What was the meaning of the voice?' 'Why did it have to appear now when l was finally accepting my fate?' 'Why can't l be left to rest in peace?' 'What is the true meaning of life?' Or more specifically, the meaning of mine.

'Your life has meaning.'

There it was again. That voice in the distance. So close that l could hear it yet so far that l could not tell where it was coming from. I came to a realisation that extinguished any budding hope that just arose from the voice. 'I am trapped here and so this voice may be my own hallucination like when people get lost in the desert and start imagining oasis' since they are dehydrated. I am going mad.'

'Not mad. You are very much sane.'

That is another hallucination from me. I guess its now time to sleep. Maybe if l sleep, l can stop the voices inside my head. Do you know how l have been sleeping lately? With my eyes open. I can't move and just because my eyes are open, doesn't mean l can close them because l cannot move my body. Besides, even if l closed my eyes, l would only be able to see darkness. There is no difference whether l opened or closed my eyes. I retreated into myself like a tortoise leaping into its shell. Now l would not be able to hear anything or see the familiar darkness.

'You can hear me and right now you have to listen.'

Shock and horror could be seen in my eyes as l realised that even this voice could break my body barrier and reach into the depths of my consciousness. I was scared.

'There is no need to be scared. You just have to listen to me.'

It's not like l even have a choice. My eyes teared up at my familiar response. Where exactly was that little girl? Why did she bring me here?

'You will discover all of this in due course hut momentarily, l have to inform you of your new role.'

'New role? What new role?'

'In preparation for what is to come, you must live through the centuries. Observe the world and its growth unhindered. Only then shall you discover your true purpose.'

'So, you mean, l still have to go through more in my life before l am happy and safe?'

'That is not all. For each century, you live through, you must always be in control of something and meet with one of me. Whatever that is, l leave up to you.'

'How do l know if l have met you?'

'You will know.'

'What should be in control of?'

'That depends on how you want to live your life.'

'Am l dead?'

'That answer shall be revealed in due course. Now go and live out your destiny.'

'Is it world-hopping? Are you a system? Can you explain more about what it means to live through a century? Hello? Are you there?'