Back home again... for now

As I stand up from the chair, a surge of excitement and pride washes over me, fueling a broad smile that spreads across my face. With a flourish of my hand, the chair dissolves into nothing, vanishing like a puff of smoke. The XXX movie that had been gifted to me now hovers freely, waiting for me to take hold of it, a testament to my newfound control over this realm.

The void resonates with approval, its myriad voices blending into a chorus of encouragement. "You're enjoying yourself," it rumbles, and I can't help but agree. The sense of power is exhilarating, making me feel excited and alive.

I turn my attention to the table, and with a swift gesture, it too disappears, taking the drink with it. The void seems to swallow them whole, leaving no trace behind. I'm a wizard in this place, a master of my surroundings, and the thrill of it sends a shiver of pride down my spine.

Behind me, the ethereal doorway shimmers. With a wave of my hand, the doorway's glow transforms into a clear image of my loft, waiting for me like a familiar embrace. The void's voices guide me, their tone filled with pride and expectation. "Now return to your home, think about what your next adventure will be."

I step through the doorway, my heart hammering with excitement and my mind a whirlwind of possibilities. In an instant, I'm back in my loft, the familiar surroundings now tinged with the magic of my recent experience. Emily's picture frame floats beside me, suspended in time, awaiting my command.

I turn to look at the doorway, the void now visible as an endless expanse of blackness. "Time resumes when you dismiss the portal," the void's voice echoes in my mind, a reminder of the power I wield. Every detail of my experience is etched perfectly in my memory—the feel of the cold drink, the taste, the sensations. "Total recall," I realize, one of the perks of my journeys into the void.

"Amazing," I breathe, my voice filling the loft. I reach out and place my hand on the cool frame of Emily's picture. As I do, the doorway behind me dissolves into the floor, as if it were never there. My body jerks ever so slightly as time catches up with me, the weight of the frame suddenly heavy in my hands. I nearly drop it, caught off guard by the abrupt change. I can hear the hum of the refrigerator, the sounds and barks of the city. The tv, continues with Xander begging Buffy to "not take off that jacket". I laugh to myself, my experience a far more explicit and pleasurable one.

I steady the frame and admire Emily's beautiful face, her still image a stark contrast to the lifelike, explicit moving images I experienced with Buffy and Faith. My mind drifts to the moving paintings in the Harry Potter movies, a fitting, if intense, comparison.

I glance at my watch and let out a sharp exhale, remembering my responsibilities. "Shit," I mutter, realizing I have to go to work. The magic of the void is intoxicating, but reality waits for no man. With a final look at Emily's picture, I set it down and prepare to face the day, my mind still buzzing with the possibilities that lie ahead.