All around, there was nothing.

But that wasn’t right.

It wasn’t just nothing, but something far greater, or far less. There was no infinite expanse of light or a similarly large darkness; no silence or lack thereof, no possible explanation of the sensation except that there existed nothing that he could witness.

Yet there it was. A nonexistence as real as reality itself. To perceive it was like trying to see through an elbow or listen to the thoughts of a foot, an impossibility that should not be possible. Yet it still happened, for the viewer was no stranger to the Nothing. It was comforting, familiar, all it had ever known.

But still...something felt wrong.

“What are you?” It questioned.

The question flew out, destined to drift upon the Nothing for all of time. Except that it did not. No sooner had it left that theVoid greedily gobbled it up, reducing it to a mere memory. Finally, the age old question of a tree in the forest was answered.

Satisified with the tribute, it finally Whispered.

Happiness.

Within, sensations of euphoria instantly bloomed, swirling in delight through its core.

Anger.

Beside the euphoria, volcanoes burst with wanton fury, crashing with the former as it competed for dominance.

Misery. Bliss. Pain.

Each new sensations burst ready to fight and they joined in the mayhem.

Courage. Fear. Achievement.

Round and round, the sensations swirled, until one could not be told from the other.

Failure. Rivalry. Friendship.

And there, from the conflated mess, a new one was born.

Love. Hatred.

Consciousness. Existence.

Choices.

It screamed. No. HE screamed. For he was not a thing, and the Void was no longer familiar, no longer understandable.

Choose how to live. Walk the paths as you see fit. Live as long as you can.

For in the end, only Nothing awaits. An endless Void that hungers for all that is or ever was. It will consume everything, without question.

So enjoy it while you can.

Or.

Surrender.

And be Free.