The library was decked out with some of the most impressive works humans have conceived. There were many classics, classics which I only heard of but never read them. One of them was about a mathematician who fell onto an apple, from a tree. That led to the discovery of Gravity.
Now that I think about it, if I had the climbing skills of a four-year old, I could've been famous too...
'No use crying over spilt milk, I guess.'
The place had glass panes, etched with colors, scattered across the walls, with a dome-shaped roof, translucent. There were waves of shelves, filled with colorful book bindings, and embedded with a silver color, the titles and the author's pennames.
It took me a while to find the books I was looking for. I first took a book related to:
'Current Political Problems and how to Solve Them'
I took another one that dwelled deep into Geometry called 'Shape your Future'
As I giggled at the attempt, I felt a pang. I couldn't describe what I felt but, it was as if someone was guiding me. I noticed a rusty book and decided to take a peep.
It was about something called Set Theory. It was a way of describing Mathematics using symbols. It felt super simple but, actually implementing it was a whole other level.
'What was the use of this?
You virtually need to use dozens of symbols just to spell out
' 1+1 = 2 '
It started to click, why I haven't heard of it before-
It was irrelevant, clunky, time-consuming, and had no real use.
.
.
"You already took a copy of this." The librarian, an old grumpy woman told me.
"I'm sorry? I don't think I have." I responded, balancing 5 books on top of each other.
"If you want, I'll show you the records. Never mind. I'm too tired for that and i didn't even get my dinner break yet.
I couldn't care less, twerp. Just put it aside and go." She grumbled.
I eyed her down as I carefully found the exit.
>
Once I made it to my room, I set the books I brought aside and went straight for the books, Lost was working on. I flipped through the pages, noticing the Set Theory book, propped against the window, and it confirmed my suspicions.
What Lost was working on was Set Theory...
I couldn't understand anything he was working on- it all seemed gibberish.
The upside? This is the first hint- Learning Set Theory.
"Brother, It's time for dinner!!!"
"Coming right now!."
>
"Do you remember everything, yet?"
"It's slowly coming to me, Mom."
It was apparently her best recipe- Meatloaf. I've never had meatloaf but, I bet nothing could ever beat this.
My dad passed me a glass of water, smiling.
"You'll choke if you eat too fast, Lost."
I gulped down the water, and returned the smile.
"Thank you."
Nera was gently kicking my shin, so I shoved her chair slightly, causing her to yelp.
"Mooom. He's trying to make me tumble!!!" She pouted.
"You're the one kicking me-"
"Yeah, because I want you to come tomorrow with me!"
"Like last time?"
"What do you mean? You never took me outside-"
"Ah-
I was thinking about something else. Sorry.
Where do you wanna go?"
Nera took her time to think. Till then, my parents began to talk about all the ' fun memories we had together' .
I felt slightly guilty. I didn't know what was going on as a whole.
'Am I currently in the past? If so, then my entire existence is changing the future.
It's either that or this is a fabrication- a simulation.
The only question would be if this was really fake and if this was an imitation of someone else's memories.'
I decided not to bother with the boring details and continued eating.
>
I laid down on my bed, staring at the stars, wondering if they were even real. I had to make Nera sleep by reading her a story- 'Dog and the Cat'.
It was nice- being an older brother.
It was nice- being a son to actual parents.
'Maybe this isn't so bad, after all.'
I thought to myself as I slowly drifted off to sleep.
>
## Day 2:
I went with Nera and her friends to the creek nearby. She introduced me to all of her friends and I didn't know what to do. I just smiled and waved, while they did as children do.
After that, I went to the library to read the books I had rented out. Set Theory was way too difficult to learn in a day, so I decided to distribute the timings so it'd be my priority 5 days a week.
I was stressed out about how I should handle Lost's schooling aspect but, luckily they gave everyone a month off due to the annual Ophera Festival- The Death Anniversary of the Hero.
Everyone, the students and staff all wanted to be a part of dollying the city up in time, before the guests come.
It was almost perfect timing.
(I didn't have my diary with me, so Lost, if you ever read this, know that I didn't do anything illegal. Instead of worrying about why you 'blacked out', read this and you'll understand.
By the way, I'm December. Nice to meet you!!)
## Day 3:
Today, I didn't do much...
It's taking a toll on me, learning all of these without any teachers or any references. So I postponed it next week. I'd rather find out more about your life.
I really appreciate the way you work relentlessly.
I saw the bunches of rough books you had. It honestly surprised me that someone could work this hard.
I wonder, Lost. What is your drive?
I get that this is a test, yet it feels way too comfortable.
Is curiosity the reason why you're giving your sweat and blood to this?
## Day 5
Sorry, I skipped a day. I was way too busy
Your parents began to recite funny moments of you as a baby. Apparently you shat on your aunt's face? Honestly made me bust out laughing (sorry...).
## Day 10
I don't know why I'm writing in this diary anymore. I thought you'd come back and take your conscience or something...
It's not that I'm complaining.
Mom and Dad miss you...
.
.
10 Days Later.
I went to the marketplace again. The butcher greeted me as always, with a smile that could cheer even the most depressed.
"Hey Lost! Want the usual?"
"Yes, please. Could you also add an extra pound? We're throwing Nancy a party. Mom could make a mean brisket, that feeds pretty much everyone"
>
It was only me who cared for Nancy. People assumed she was your everyday grumpy ol' librarian.
She was simply passionate about literature.
She was there for me for years....
.For Years..
.
"Lost.
My mother, Nancy had passed away in the morning...."
.
.
>
Mom opened the door for me. She took the brisket and kept it someplace safe.
"I made omelets, Lost. Wanna try them out?"
....
S̴͠͠͝͠͝͝͠͝͠͝͠͝͠͝͠͝͝l̷̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀o̴͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝ẁ̶̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀ ̴͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝d̶̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀o̴͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝ẁ̶̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀n̴͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝,̷̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀ ̴͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝D̶̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀e̴͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝c̶̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀e̴͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝ỳ̶̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀.
...
Who's Decey....?
Y̴͠͠͠ò̷̀̀u̴͝͝͝'̷̀̀̀r̴͝͝͝è̷̀̀ ̴͝͝͝à̷̀̀c̶̀̀̀t̷͝͝͝ì̷̀̀n̴͝͝͝g̶̀̀̀ ̴͝͝͝à̷̀̀s̶̀̀̀ ̴͝͝͝ì̷̀̀f̴͝͝͝ ̴͝͝͝K̷̀̀̀e̴͝͝͝l̷̀̀̀a̴͝͝͝ ̴͝͝͝ì̷̀̀s̴͝͝͝ ̴͝͝͝à̷̀̀ ̴͝͝͝b̷̀̀̀e̴͝͝͝t̷̀̀̀t̶̀̀̀e̷͝͝͝r̷̀̀̀ ̴͝͝͝c̶̀̀̀h̷͝͝͝è̷̀̀f̴͝͝͝ ̴͝͝͝t̷̀̀̀h̷͝͝͝à̷̀̀n̴͝͝͝ ̴͝͝͝m̷̀̀̀e̴͝͝͝
Who's Kela...?
...
An image popped into my head. An image that made a part of me squirm in disgust.
It was an image of a female. Her head ripped apart, her guts spewing all over a hillside, painting it red.
There was someone there...
I couldn't see him.
He was on the ground, panting frantically, covered in the remains of the woman.
"Brother. Are you alright..?
You're breathing weirdly..."
Nera's worrying calls only got the attention of Mom and Da-
....
Mom and Dad...?
I have a Mom and Dad...?
Wasn't I alone?
Wasn't I always alone...?
My parents died when I was a baby, wasn't that right...?
"Son, please stay calm-
Oh come on, Arthur, he's clearly overstressed from all his work."
Who even am I?
What am I here to do?
Overstressed?
That's right... I was working on a thesis...
On set theory...
I fell sideways, dragging the table cloth along with me. The China fell on my face and slightly cracked, cutting my cheek deep.
Who am I...?
"BROTHER. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
YOU FELL DOWN."
Who said that..?
"SON. I'LL GET YOU PATCHED UP. JUST STAY STILL."
Who said that...?
I reverted back into something my body somehow remembered- I curled up and began shivering, gasping for air.
"Aunt Kela...?
You're alive...
Yeah...
You're alive...
Nancy...
You're alive too...." I whispered, trying to get oxygen into my brain.
The room began transforming into something. I could smell death. I could smell the grass.
I could hear the rustling of trees, dancing along the wind.
*crack*
The grass was red.
The trees were red.
*crack*crack*
My hands were red.
All I could see was red.
*CRACK*
W̴͝͝͝è̷̀̀l̴͝͝͝c̶̀̀̀o̴͝͝͝m̷̀̀̀e̴͝͝͝ ̴͝͝͝B̶̀̀̀à̷̀̀c̶̀̀̀k̴͝͝͝
She's dead
Aunt Kela died right in front of me.
And there was nothing I could do about it.
I failed...
I lost myself, Aunt Kela...