Kiel

The bottle isn't empty. The night isn’t over. The song has yet to be sung.

He sat, tired and wondering aloud to himself. There were often nights like these - empty and mentally drifting. He had long ago given up trying to discover why or how, it all ended up the same anyway. It was best to just embrace it and try and ride it out. Maybe within the depths of his own sordid mind he could discover something true. A reality as yet undiscovered…he took a swig and sank deeper…

It had happened once before. The second time had been so much worse. The first time I had woken up at least three times at once. It was fucked up. I had been sleep talking and walking, not all that uncommon but she had been scared. She had woken me. It was terrifying. I had woken up, several times, all at once. I was me. But I was not alone. It was as if several distinct and unique individuals, all of whom were I, awoke sharing the same reality for a moment. It is with deep gratitude that it was but for a moment, as I have just learnt. The silence of my mind, the singularity that is I, has gone. I can neither forget that glorious reality from better times nor can I rid myself of the insanity that now clutches me. I am thankful that at least it remains undetected, I do not live in a tolerant time.

My name is Brian. It was a simple name given by a simple man, my father, William. It has been some time since I have been known by that name. I long now for that vile name I once scorned. The reality I once created now hangs heavily upon my shoulders. Kiel, my reality for these past four years, was of a strength and determination I had but dreamed of as Brian but his reality required every ounce of it and more. It was a lonely monotonous unrelenting style of life. Kiel never traveled far but never stayed still. His ingenuity and bravery were….