The darkness stared back at me. Back into my minuscule, dot eyes. This atmosphere was not alarming, and in fact produced a faint sense of comfort. The vast nothingness was so loud, yet so quiet at the same time. For a moment I thought I'd died. I could not feel myself blink, nor the feet beneath me that kept me upright. I felt as though I had no responsibilities, no obligations, nothing at all keeping me rooted to the earth. It was such a freeing sensation. In trying to remember how I'd arrived at such a place, I had to think. One moment I was conscious, and the next I simply ceased to be. Was death so instant? So inconsequential? As one who feels minimally on most things, I tried to mourn myself. I was unsure if anyone else would. The dark was my only company, my only friend in this world, and apparently in the next as well.

I was unsure if I was awake or asleep. In trying to feel for anything at all, I was met with an even deeper, more hollow nothingness. Not simply the color black, the absence of light. Nothingness has no color. It is indescribable. It is terrifying. But for some reason, I was unafraid. I felt as if it was welcoming me, inviting me to be one with it.

At last, a single light was born in the ocean of inky black. It was the most welcoming sight of all, a beautiful, magnificent light, shining down from what could only be the 'sky' in this place. The light produced a small circle on the equally dark ground, illuminating it in its brilliant yellow light. That familiar sight, one I instantly recognized, despite not wearing a face. I knew it well. I recognized even faster the voice that emanated from it.

What are you doing here?

It asked from within a deeper part of my mind.

I could not reply.

I heard it laugh, and the light approached me. This startled me a bit, and I went to take a few steps back from its intensity, only to find I could no longer move. This being of light shone directly in front of me, and I basked in its glorious light.

"Sorry, we're not used to guests! Woah, I need to get the others! We should..."

It rambled out loud this time before trailing off. Despite having no eyes, I could feel it squinting to look harder at me. I heard it let out a joyous gasp.

"I know who you are!!"

It exclaimed, the spotlight giving a twirl around me. It was an amusing little creature, much as I remembered. The light saw my apprehension and shushed me, trying to lull me into a sense of security.

"Don't worry, I'm a friend. I totally know why you're here, they told me so! Just sit tight, and I'll fetch them for ya."

I nodded in agreement, or at least I tried to. I could not feel myself performing the action.

The light moved backwards slightly, illuminating the only landmark in the nothingness, something I'd failed to notice without the spotlight. A stage, masked behind bright red curtains. The spotlight shone on them, making circles around the drapes. The curtains were pulled back by an invisible force, and behind them stood the yellow spotlight.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Everyone in between! I'd like to welcome you to this super-duper-awesome-spectacular extravaganza!"

It exclaimed, twirling around the stage, illuminating each and every wooden plank along the floor. I stood in complete awe at the spectacle.

"Today, we have an amazing story for you! We're here to tell a story, a cautionary tale, if you will...AND I WILL! Because I'm gonna tell it! Right now!"

The spotlight turned, shining onto me. I was momentarily blinded by its brilliance.

"To do that...I'm gonna need help from my audience."

I understood immediately. Finally, I could speak once more.

I could see more than ever before.