“That’s awesome. Why do you say he was your greatest failure?”
That is a long story for another time. But I see that potential in you, Roen. I do.
Roen stood up and sighed. “Honestly, I think you’re full of crap. But I’m going to give you the chance to prove me wrong. I guess I’d better get started then.”
He began to walk toward the lake, slowly picking up speed as he moved deeper and deeper into the city. His face burned as he felt the snickering and judging eyes as he lumbered down the busy streets.
Make it drive you.
Roen huffed and puffed, but kept his face looking forward as he navigated past the stark buildings and down busy walkways. All around him, men and women in suits rushed to work. Cars and buses sat bumper to bumper at intersections, exhaling fumes and noise. Like the blood vessels of the city, the streets pumped them through at a frantic pace. He felt very out of place.
Remember the difference between them and the person you wish to be.
Roen gritted his teeth and pushed forward. The sun was beating down on him by the time he reached Buckingham Fountain. He plopped on one of the benches, gasping for breath. The mist from the water shooting high into the air felt cool to the touch. He rolled unceremoniously off the bench to the grass and lay there for several moments and closed his eyes, feeling the heavy thumping in his chest.
“I think I’m going to have a heart attack. I... I can’t breathe.”
Well, Roen, would you like to ask the seventy year-old man next to you to give you CPR?
Roen started to laugh, which aggravated his condition. It was another ten minutes before he felt well enough to sit up without feeling faint. He picked himself up and walked to the fountain, scooping water onto his face.
How do you feel?
“Like I want to throw up.”
Vomiting is a positive sign for this situation. It will only be a matter of time before this becomes routine to you.
“What? I have to do this again?”
Of course. Tomorrow – in fact, every single day.
“This is going to hurt tomorrow. Shoot, I still have to run back home. I don’t think I can make it.”
You will be in a lot of pain tomorrow, but that is part of the progress. Do not worry about running back. The jog was enough. You have that cash?
Roen nodded.
Good, go hail a cab. You are late for work.
That night, Roen lay in bed exhausted, but unable to sleep. His body was still throwing a fit about the workout and his knees wobbled every time he walked up stairs. There was just so much to process. What would all this mean for him, and how would his life change? Obviously, it had already changed considering he worked out today. Was he really sure he was sane? He had an imaginary friend as a kid after all, though this new guy definitely was not as nice. Tao was actually kind of a jerk.
Roen?
“Yes, Tao?”
You should sleep. I am going to wake you up very early tomorrow.
“I can’t sleep, Tao. Tell me a story.”
Once upon a time, there were three bears...
“No, I mean about all those past lives you had. Can you tell me about all those people you inhabited?”
You really want to know?
“Yes. Do you mind?”
Of course not. I am flattered. I can do better than tell you. I can show you while you sleep.
“Is it like when you put those images into my head? They come and go so fast they’re almost subliminal. Can you show it to me for longer than a millisecond?”
I could, but you would receive a debilitating headache and get sick. That is why I only flash them momentarily.
“Forget it then. I have a low enough pain threshold as it is. I’d rather you just tell me.”
The effect will not be painful while you sleep. You will experience it like a dream.
“Really? That’s great. Wait, but if you can do that, why don’t you just show me something useful like how to drive a tank or how to build a rocket?”
Chances are, you will never have to drive a tank
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