Female

Darkness surrounds you. Eternal darkness. You have no idea how long you lie here. Well, lying is probably not correct. You rather float. It feels like you have been here forever but you have lost every feeling of time. You try to open your eyes but something closes them. And there is a strange warmth around you. You feel not bad. Rather save and cared for. The darkness is not threatening at all. But how did you got here?

You try to remember what has happened. But everything in your mind is blurry. Your memories disappear in the fog of oblivion. You try to cling to your remaining memories. A mirror shows a girl with braces admiring herself in a blue dress. It was you on your twelfth birthday. Then a good looking boy around 16 laughing about something you said. You like him, but you are not sure why. Was he your boyfriend? Or a relative?

Then there is a sad scene. You sit at a hospital bed and cry. A doctor tries to comfort you. You were an adult by this time, but who was the person in the bed you grieve over? And finally the last thing you remember. You leave a comic store and go to your car. You drive a while and when you are on a bridge, the world suddenly spins. Deafening noise of tearing metal and breaking stones. And then the darkness. You are not sure, but somehow you get the feeling, it is over now. This moment at the bridge was your last moment. You died. You are dead now. This is difficult to realize, but deep in your mind you know it is true.

Something pulls you out of your thoughts. There is a sudden movement. It is as if the darkness around you begins to twist. And then there is a light. Weak at first, but it gets brighter and brighter. You hear sounds. Voices. Louder and louder. And there is a sudden pressure at your body that also gets stronger very quick. And suddenly, the warmth disappears and is replaced by some cold air. You try to breath, but something slimy covers your whole face. You cough and gag until something big wipes you mouth free and gives you access to fresh, clean air.

You gasp for air and scream because of this horrible experience, but your voice sounds strange. Kind of squeaky. It would be funny, if it wouldn't be so scary. Then there is something soft and warm wrapping around you. Like a towel that laid on a heater for some minutes. And finally, your eyes get wiped free. Everything is so bright and loud. You want it to stop. You can't prevent that you begin to cry.

“You did it, my love,” a rough, male voice says close to you, “our child is safe. And … it is a girl. Do you want to see your daughter?”

“Yes, yes I want to see her,” a soft but weak female voice answers and you feel yourself getting moved, “welcome to Calitian, little one. Honey, look, you have a sister now. And her name will be Clare. What do you think dear?”

“A great choice,” the male voice says, “careful, son. Girls are more fragile than you and me. Take care of your mother for a moment. I get more water and cloths.”

This whole situation feels so surrealistic. You understand that you are kind of born or rather reborn. But what you can see of your surroundings looks like it is from some kind of medieval museum. And why can you understand everything if you are a baby you shouldn't be able to do so. This must be some kind of dream. But it feels too real. You fight the tears again. Where are you? And what is happening to you? You don't know it yet, but you will have a lot of time to find out. The time of a whole, new childhood.