Unbeknownst to most life in the vast universe, there exists worlds with life that nestle within cracks in the void of the physical plain of existence.
Whether these worlds are the realms of the afterlife is unknown, but what is clear is that sometimes…
some things…
physical or not…
real or not…
tend to slip into the cracks…
…
…
“Hmm?”...I woke up and see nothing but darkness before me. At least I think I’m awake and opening my eyes. It’s also really cold.
…
That’s really odd…I also feel really tired for some reason. As if I just went through a 10km jog without rest while carrying a sack of potatoes. And yet, it also feels that I’m floating.
“Where am I?”
A reasonable thought. I don’t
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remember falling into a manhole or something. My last thought was that… “Wait! It can’t be!?” That’ right…the last thing I remember was that I was running from a truck. I remember seeing one of the tires come off and the truck was heading straight for me. Of course, I panicked and ran in the opposite direction, but now that I think about it, it was a stupid idea. I mean, even if it was missing a tire, how the hell was I supposed to outrun a speeding truck? Sigh… ”I guess some people really do make stupid decisions when they panic…” And apparently I’m one of them… … … After brooding for a bit, I realized that I’m still in this dark place. “So…am I dead then? That kinda sucks but at least it wasn’t as painful as I expected. Then again, where the hell am I?” I was anxious with the idea that I might be dead, but the fact that I wasn’t feeling any pain and was actually cold gave me some sense of comfort that I might still be alive. It seems this line of thought helped me keep calm. “Heeeey! Can anyone hear me? I’d really like to know if I’m dead or if I’m in Hell.” I’m surprised I could still be sarcastic despite the predicament I’m in. I wasn’t really expecting a response in the dark but the next moment gave me quite a shock. “…Child from beyond the void.
Why have you come here?”
An old sonorous voice suddenly sounded in my head as if it was ringing from within my skull. My first reaction?
“#@&*+!?”
I swore mightily in my fright as it almost gave me a heart attack.
“…Child…I would appreciate it if you’d answer me without spewing blasphemies that would shame your own mother.”
The voice reprimanded me sternly but calmly. And with its effect, calmed me as well.
“I’m sorry…I’ve never had a voice speak into my head before. Panic always gets the best of me.” I replied, politely as I can.
“…It’s all good and well as long as you understand. Now as I asked earlier Child, why have you come here?”
It asked me again, and this time I made sure to respond in kind. I spoke of my circumstances and my concerns hoping it would give me the answers I sought.
“Hmm…I see…Child…it’s unfortunate with what happened to you and that you currently do not know of your current state.”
My current state? When he said that, I had a terrible sense of foreboding.
“Child…it is unfortunate for me to say…but you can only enter my domain if you were a soul. And as of now, you are indeed a flickering soul. You have, unfortunately, already passed from the physical
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plain.” As he said the words I dreaded, my heart fell and I felt as if a great weight fell on me. As my emotions were in turmoil, I found myself screaming in despair and regret. For how long I screamed and cried…I do not know… ... After what seemed like a very long time, I somewhat calmed down and the voice spoke to me again…kindly…like a caring grandfather… “Poor Child…if it would help alleviate your pain, I would be happy to listen to your story. Tell me of your life, and the memories you’ve lived. I’ve been here for as long as I can remember, and though the eons pass, there has been no light and life in this dark place. You are the first soul I’ve come to meet.” I looked onto the darkness and as I thought, I felt inclined to speak to this voice of who I am. It seems I’ve forgotten my name no matter how hard I tried to remember, but I told him of my world, my life, the good things, the bad things; I told him everything believing in some hope that I would never be forgotten. It’s strange…I’ve always asked why people tried so hard to be remembered in society or in history, but now it seems I can understand. The fear of being forgotten…that you’d gradually fade away out of existence…only then…would you truly be dead… I’ve already lost track of time after I’ve told him all of my being without tiring. And afterwards it seemed that he had truly enjoyed it. “Hoho! Indeed…such an intriguing world! A world built upon logic and knowledge through the ingenuity of man. To think such a world existed where man has gained control of the elements through the use of tools called machines and this so called science. This world I reside in could hardly compare with the accomplishments of your world despite the existence of that which is called magic.” After listening to him, I couldn’t help but notice what he said at the last bit. Did he say magic? As in, that sort of magic? And also…this world? “Um…excuse me…sir?...um…what do you mean by “this world”? and did you really say magic?” I timidly asked him to confirm what he said. “Hmm…now this won’t do. You and I have already formed a bond and closure, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t call me “sir”. Then again, I’ve also already forgotten my true name…Well, no matter, it is of no import. Child, this world that I’m referring to is the world beyond this dark place. It is a world filled with magic and fantasy as you so earlier described in your stories. Now I ask you, considering the regrets that you’ve spoken, if given the chance to live once more, what do you want to do? What do you hope to achieve?” …did he just toss aside the fact that he forgot his name? I shook my head and didn’t think much about my reply, “If given another chance to live…I’d want power…the power to never be pushed around by those who’d want to take from me.” I remembered that when I was alive, I was usually a pushover and people would always take advantage of me. I wouldn’t say I was bullied, but I was very dissatisfied with myself about not being able to take back the things taken from me…even my pride. “I want women! That’s right! I want to sleep with girls! I want to get laid!” …that’s right…owing to my timid nature, I lacked the confidence to speak to girls and ended up growing up still a virgin. …I DIED A VIRGIN DAMMIT! So I can’t help it if this desire was so strong that it almost became the center of my being. “But for me…the most important one of all…is that I want to have a family! A happy family! A big family! So big that I’ll never be lonely again!” That’s right…this was what trumped even my desire for women…this was the true center of my desires. I never knew a lot about my parents growing up since they left for abroad when I was young then separated in the end. People stole from us as they left, and somehow it felt like I was to blame for not realizing it. The only person I could talk to was my brother who also felt unloved, so we only ended up supplanting each others dark feelings even further. Even most of the families around us ended up miserable with their lives…filled with fake smiles and “hopes” that their children can help improve their lives, that was the world I lived in. I know it’s not as bad as some people had it, but my desires for having a happy family was truly the strongest wish burning within me, a feeling of hope that I would never be lonely. “Hm hm…very good. Hearing your regrets, I can even feel your desire to live, and it is indeed very strong…Child, if I told you I may have a way to help you live again, would you take it?” After hearing this, it felt like my entire soul shuddered. Since I was literally a soul, perhaps I looked like I bug shaken in a glass container? “…there’s no question for it, however…what’s the catch? Why are you willing to help me?” Even though I was ecstatic at the possibility, I didn’t lose grip of my reason and wanted to confirm my suspicions. “Good, good.
I understand your suspicions Child and you are wise in asking. You have every right to question the possibility. After all, nothing comes without a price.”
I knew it…I could only hope that the price isn’t too great. After all the novels and books I read, I wouldn’t wanna be reincarnated as a bug, no matter how cheap the price is.
“As for why I want to help you…the answer is simple. I’m bored! Bored of this dreary life of waiting in the dark. Though in a sense I may not be alive as well, my soul is bound here and I simply continue to exist. It is a hell quite unforgiving. As to how helping you will quell my boredom, that’s where the price comes in.”
I gulped as my nervousness reached its peak. My anxiety was killing me as I listened in.
“My price…is that my soul be bound with yours. That I may be able to experience the joys and the sorrows of your new life along with you! I who has existed in such a long time have yet to experience enjoying life, henceforth, I would like to learn from your experiences so that once you are fulfilled, I might be able to enjoy it in my own cycle of reincarnation. The only concern I have…is that I may not be able to revive you as a human…at most you will be humanoid, but that is all I can promise. So what say you,
Child?” …
Life and death, day and night, summer and winter are seen not simply as opposed but as involved in a system of alternation and continuity-indeed, a fundamental relationship of cycles. These opposites form what we can call a bipartite view. For black there is white and for something like the heavens there must be a corresponding underworld below us.
You will carry on as his thoughts. Who you are and who you will be is his influence. He chose to be the inner dialogue. To guide you for his amusement. He will forever be a tumor in your mind.”
He starts when he catches a glimpse of his reflection in the stream. “Our body was not like the
The most pondered about question for a lot of people is what happens after we die? Is it a dark abyss, do we fall into a hole of nothingness, or is there an afterlife where our soul lives without our bodies? Although many are quick to respond, the true answer will always be unknown, because although we can think about death as we live, there’s no way of really knowing what will happen outside our mind when we’re gone, if the mind is one of the few things agreed upon that is certain. Thomas Nagel, author of What Does It All Mean?, considers that if a person “consists of a soul and a body connected together, we can understand how life after death might be possible” (page 89). Most philosophers argue that each person does have a soul, and this soul is a body of knowledge that people should expand upon while pushing aside bodily influences. Counter to the skepticism of Nagel, Greek philosopher Plato, in his work the Phaedo, uses the Theory of Forms to reason why souls must exist, however he lacks strength in explaining the cycle of birth and death for the soul, and more importantly how the soul popped into existence.
He just kept shrugging,”*i thought you could handle it, kid. if you would have stopped and listened to me-.”
There is much belief that when humans die their lives are not yet over. They will live on as something else or they will live as their spirit/ soul. How is it though, that people would be able to live on in an afterlife because once you’re dead you cease to exist? There are three common explanations to how there is an afterlife. The first, near death experiences take place when someone is close to death and can either feel the soul separate from the body, or are able to see what is known as the “white light”. The second, reincarnation which occurs when someone passes on and has a second chance at life as either someone different or a whole new organism is general. The third, resurrection, the way Jesus rose from the dead, happens when someone confirmed dead return to life. Each one of these theories for life after death has a series of truths behind them, however, which one is considered the most reasonable truth? This paper will analyze each theory and conclude with the best answer possible why people should believe in the afterlife.
In June 1985, British mountain climbers Joe Simpson and Simon Yates ventured the unclimbed western face of Siula Grande, a 21,000 ft. high peak that is located in the Peruvian Andes. Simpson and Yates were both aware that what they are aspiring is nearly impossible because if something gone wrong it can be serious, which may lead to death, and there is no rescue available; in addition, mountain climbers before them who attempted to reach the mountain’s summit never achieved this goal. However, this didn’t stop them from climbing the west face of Siula Grande. They want to climb the mountain mainly because “it was just brilliant fun.” (2009). When people are aware that they are getting their selves in a detrimental situation, they still continue to do what they want to do. In my opinion, I believe people behave this way because they just want to try something extraordinary or they want to prove something to someone; but in Psychology, people behave this way because of motivation. Motivation is defined as the process “that makes a person move toward a goal.” (SparkNotes Editors, 2005); a motivation can be intrinsic, extrinsic, or both. Intrinsic motivation is a type of motivation which causes an individual to act or engage in activities to enhance their self-concept, while extrinsic motivation is a type of motivation that causes an individual to act in such a way for external awards. In Simpson’s and Yates’ case, they are both experiencing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation; despite of getting their selves in danger, they still yearn to reach the mountain’s summit because of interest, enjoyment, and rewards.
“Yeah. After you-” another word lost, “you didn’t age, so I never felt the need to age with
“But before they do it I want you to try and remember what it was like to have been very young.”
“I suppose that I have never properly thanked you for saving my life. I am sorry for that. I was not sure then that I wished it saved.”
"I-, I don't. I don't understand-," he tried speaking but his lapsed breathing stopped him from speaking
"Nothing. I just thought that I should visit you." His dark brown eyes examined the room thoughtfully. "Chanyeol really shouldn't leave a helpless girl alone."
Jenkins, Alejandro, and Gilad Perez. "Looking for Life in the Multiverse." Scientific American Jan. 2010: 42-49. Print.
I felt my chest tense up almost like you are trying to catch your breath, but there is no air to breathe.The pencil in my hand slipped from the sweat. I looked at the clock there was five more minutes of class left and I had only answered five questions on my math test. My stomach felt like it was
"But, Anisa..." my mum sighed, worry still dancing around in her eyes. "You try to hide it, but just seem so upset all the - recently. Of course, we understand, regarding the circumstances. But that just makes it even more reasonable for you to consult a professional."