*** = listener speaking

Can be monetised, just please link back to either this post or my YouTube!

Gender(s) can be changed if wanted!

~~~

Excuse me. Do you mind if we partner up for this project?

I’m new around here, so I don’t really know anyone yet, and everyone else has said no…

Sorry, that sounds like a sob story.

***

You don’t mind?

[speaker sighs in relief]

Thank you. I was starting to worry I would have to do this by myself.

How do we want to split this? The teacher gave us five things to research, so it’s not like we can just split it halfway…

***

Are you sure? I don’t mind taking three points instead of two or finding some other way around it.

***

I’ll leave those points up to you, then.

Thank you. That’s… really kind of you.

I don’t actually know too much about this subject, so that’s a bit of weight off my shoulders.

***

[speaker’s voice can glitch in and out during this]

O-Oh, I, um, just… I didn’t study this subject in my old school.

I studied something else, but then this school didn’t offer it, so I had to pick something new.

Pains of being a transfer student, right?

[speaker awkwardly laughs]

***

How did I know you were also a transfer student?

…S-Someone else told me.

***

Who…?

Uh… I don’t remember?

Just someone from class, it’s not really that important, haha.

[voice stops glitching]

S-So, do you want to come round mine later so we can start the project? Or would you rather we start at yours?

***

Sure, I don’t have a problem going to yours. Oh, but can I have your phone number?

I think we have different classes at the end of the day, so that way we can just text each other once we’re both out of class.

Sound good?

[transition of students talking, bell, walking, etc]

Excuse me. Pardon the intrusion.

***

Oh, your parents aren’t around? Are they still at work?

***

You live alone? How come?

***

They work abroad? I see…

[voice glitches as speaker mumbles]

That’s a smart excuse, I’ll give them that.

[voice goes back to normal]

***

Hmm? Oh, it’s nothing! Just… never mind.

Should we set everything up in the lounge?

***

Sure, we can set everything up in your room. No complaints here.

[speaker listener walk upstairs, set down their stuff and sit down]

[speaker’s phone buzzes]

S-Sorry, I’m just getting a call from my parents. Do you mind if I just go take this?

It won’t take long.

***

Thank you! I’ll be right back!

[speaker runs off; listener waits a bit, then follows them]

[speaker voice is glitching; fades in as listener finds them]

I’m trying here, okay? I know that on your little black board your plan seems simple but it’s not. You haven’t considered the mental toll! The whole reason I was brought in for this project initially was because of that, remember?

If I just go up to them and say ‘oh, just to let you know, your entire life as you remember it is a lie because your mind was uploaded into a simulation that your parents built for you as your body recovers from a traumatic accident they caused and felt bad about, but now some stuff happened so your uncle is trying to get you out of the simulation with the help of your childhood best friend that you don’t remember because the simulation is suppressing your real memories so that you don’t die from the stress and trauma of an experience that should’ve killed you’?

Yeah, that would really go over great-

[listener knocks something over, catching speaker’s attention]

…Shoot.

[listener runs; speaker follows]

Wait! Please, let me explain! Don’t run off!

[speaker grabs listener]

Please, I understand that was a lot to take in at once and I’m sorry, you weren’t meant to overhear that.

You’re probably very confused and scared right now. But running off isn’t going to change anything right now, okay?

Let’s try some breathing exercises.

Breathe in for four seconds. One… two… three… four…

Okay, now hold that breath in for seven seconds. One… two… three… four… five… six… seven…

And now release that breath for eight seconds. One… two… three… four… five… six… seven… eight…

[glitch effect is lessened, but still there]

How are you feeling now? Do you want to do that again?

***

Alright. But if you start to get overwhelmed again, let me know.

You can sit down or lie down now if that helps.

[listener sits down]

Will holding my hand help?

I’ll leave my hand here if you need to squeeze it at any point.

***

The phone call…

Do you remember having an uncle? One that works in biotech advancement?

***

You don’t…

I’m afraid you do have one.

He was the one I was speaking to on the phone.

***

Yes. What I said on the phone call is true.

This world… is a simulation.

Your parents… I’m not sure how you remember them in this world, but in the real world they were working with medical companies to develop a technology that would allow a person’s consciousness to be temporarily stored within a computer while a patient is recovering.

They wanted to reduce any mental trauma that would amount from situations such as long-term illness care… or in your case, traumatic accidents. Think of this place as a virtual rehabilitation centre.

I don’t know the details of what happened, but your body was severely injured. The doctors didn’t think you would be able to make it in your state.

Your parents decided to make you the first person to be uploaded into this program. And luckily, it worked.

But then… both your parents and your body went missing. And the companies that were funding your parent’s research now want to shut down the program.

If they did that, your consciousness would be lost as well.

Your uncle found out about this and managed to access the main server where your consciousness is being stored – the place we are right now. He’s done his best to develop a robotic body to upload your consciousness to.

The only issue is that whatever method your parents were going to use to bring you back to reality is lost with them. Without it, the only way to get your consciousness out of here is for you to willingly leave the simulation.

As your friend and a psychologist, I was chosen to come in here and explain the situation to you so that you’d be able to do so.

***

Getting your consciousness out of the simulation is… frustratingly simple.

You just have to think about returning back to your old life. That’ll do the trick.

The frustrating part is that your parents, for whatever reason, decided to completely replace your memories with new ones.

I’m sorry to put this burden on you, but is there anything you remember at all?

Anything about your parents? Anything about your uncle? …About me?

***

Oh…! Yes, that’s right! I gave you a stress ball a few years ago… you ended up using it so much that the paint cracked and it tore.

You gave it back to me just before the accident. Can you remember that?

***

Okay, just focus on that memory. Try to recall as much detail as possible.

I’m right here with you, okay? Both in this simulated world and the real one.

When you wake up, I’ll be right there with you.

Just close your eyes and try to focus…

[speaker’s voice fades out]

[sound of a pod opening]

[speaker’s voice fades in]

…open! Their eyes are open!

Are you okay? How do you feel?

Can you tell how many fingers I’m holding up?

***

Yes, that’s right! Thank the heavens…

Welcome back.