In the dimly lit room in the hospital, there born a boy named Robert. His story was not like any other, for within the confines of his fragile mind, an intricate tapestry of personalities and secrets lay hidden, waiting to be unravelled.
From the moment Robert was born, it was clear that he was different. His eyes held a depth that belied his tender age, and his laughter, though rare, had a hauntingly mature quality. The surrounded people whispered about him, a child touched by an otherworldly presence, and as he grew, his peculiarities only became more pronounced.
This is a story of a boy with Dissociative Identity Disorder, a narrative that delves into the intricacies of the human mind, the mysteries of identity, and the power of resilience in the face of profound inner turmoil. As we follow Robert on his tumultuous path towards understanding, we are invited to confront our own perceptions of self, love, sanity, and the fragile threads that bind us together.
Geoff and Naomi are dead, and they're depressed, but when Geoff's cat Bernie dies as well, they embark on a wild journey to find it in the underworld.
*****
When Geoff dies, alongside his girlfriend Naomi, they end up sharing an apartment in the Underworld as skeletons. But after a few years, Geoff starts suffering a mid-death crisis. What's the purpose of going through the motions as a skeleton if you can't really live? Then he gets word that his cat, Bernie, just died and he can collect him and bring him home! Geoff and Naomi hurry to get Bernie only to discover that, due to a clerical error, their cat has been lost. With the hunt for Bernie giving new purpose to Geoff's un-life, he and Naomi begin a quest to get back their cat. Battling skeleton pirates, climbing the sky ladder and facing off against the villain who took Bernie, Geoff is determined to find his purpose - or die a second time trying!
[[2018 Wattys Winner - The Originals]]
[[word count: 30,000-40,000 words]]