I awoke from my bed, yawned, and stretched my arms. I looked around my room with a strange light in my eyes.
For some reason, there was something strange that was scratching the inside of my skin that I could not quite scratch.
I dismissed the idea as nothing. It was probably because I had just woken up, I thought.
Comfortable clothes, soft bed, a room with protected walls...
And even a balcony.
Watching the great view of the city — a human civilization. It felt like I had achieved all that I ever desired.
Large houses stood, tall buildings towered, paved roads branched in all directions, and the presence of humans was all around in the city.
It was high afternoon, the best time to appreciate the human civilization.
Here, it was safe. It was warm, it was secure, and most of all, it was peaceful.
It was largely what I felt, but somewhere deep within me, I could feel something missing.
I couldn't tell what it was.
Was it company? I looked to my side, but there was no one.
But I didn't lack at those, I had friends in the city. I talked with them, joked with them, and even laughed.
So what was it?
It was bugging me, scratching at my mind.
I left my house, looking back at it, I could hardly believe that this was my very own property, it felt like I had reached the pinnacle of luxury.
Everything I ever wanted, just, one day, magically became reality for me.
It was unrealistic, really.
I shook my head and turned back, I ignored all of the bugging stuff in my mind and set my eyes forward.
I returned hours later back into my house, I had just hanged out with a few friends of mine in the city whilst enjoying all kinds of delicious food.
It was a life of paradise, actually.
A big smile was on my face but once I was left alone, it slowly faded. My face grew dark.
This life was a life I could not even dream of, so why am I not satisfied?
A safe place within tall walls, great friends, a house, and delicious foods.
Everything a normal person could ever desire was all here!
Yet...why?
________
Years after years passed.
My hair had grown grey, wrinkles were present on my face. Time was ruthless and made me old.
I was at the age where the grim reaper could take me away at any moment.
My mundane life as a normal human was ending. I knew that as a matter of fact.
Throughout my life — my days in this city, it felt like everything was handed to me. No ounce of danger came my way at all, no harm was done to me nor the city.
It was peaceful and calm. A world where no danger existed.
Yet... I was searching for something deep inside. I had avoided it all my life and relished in the comfortableness of the city instead.
I turned a blind eye to it and instead enjoyed the delicious food, the luxury and the safety of the city.
It was all here, what was I looking for?
I had my own house, I had money, I had friends...
I even have...a wife and a son?
Wait...who?
I clutched my head, my eyes shook as my shoulder dropped.
"Who...am I?" I asked in a trembling voice.
Faceless people popped up in my mind.
Empty faces!
It was a face with no facial features, it was all blank, no eyes, no nose, no lips, nothing!
It was creepy and horrifying.
Humans with no faces. Just imagining it would be very chilling.
I was shook to the bone.
Are these...my friends? My wife and daughter?
Who...are they really?
I don't even know them, nor do I know their names.
They...were complete strangers!
Who are they?
The question rang in my mind nonstop.
They were supposed to be people I had spent my whole life with, so why? Why can't I remember any of their faces, nor their personalities?
Who are they?
Who are they?!
Who are they?!
Who are they?!
My mind was in chaos. I couldn't think straight.
Till, everything vanished.
I couldn't hear a single sound anymore, not even the rustling of the winds from the open window. My mind also grew quiet, but that was only the calm before the storm.
Who...am I?
Bang!
A headache occurred, I clutched my head. It felt like it was getting crushed, a splitting-headache was what I was experiencing.
Wrinkles deepened on my forehead, my eyes were tightly shut. The pain was nothing I could ever even dream of.
It was like I was losing a part of myself again.
Wait...again?
Did this happen some time ago too?
Where? How? When?
Questions plagued my mind, almost driving me insane.
I bit my lips, causing blood to drip.
The headache was not lessening, it was persistent and stubborn. My mind was bleeding. I was experiencing great mental pain — no, more like it was my soul that was getting slowly devoured away by something vicious.
The pain was more than I could handle, I threw my head back and screamed, I had fallen on the floor long ago.
It was something I could not endure at all.