Awaken

Grass. That was the first thing. Grass, and a sky so blue it felt like it was showing off.

I could not tell how long I had been lying there. I tried to remember how I got here. Then where here was. Then, with growing concern, who I was. Nothing answered.

Stranger still, I felt almost nothing. No ache, no cold, no weight. A man lying in a field should at least feel the field.

Maybe I was dead. Maybe this was a dream. I did not like how easily either one fit.

I raised a hand to shield my eyes. It was not a hand.

Metal, jointed like bone. I told it to close, and it closed, without a sound. So it was mine. That should have been more comforting than it was.

The helm, then. Under a helm there is a face, and a face would be a start.

It did not come off. I pulled. I twisted. I pulled harder, and the panic came up fast.

"Come on," someone said. It took me a moment to understand that it was me. I did not know the voice.

I let go. I breathed. The helm stayed exactly where it was. Of course it did.

So I did the only thing left. I got up.

Nobody helped. Nobody watched. A leaf went tumbling past on the wind. I could hear the wind rushing by. I could not feel it at all.

There were only the flowers, and the mountains, which did not seem the least bit surprised to see me.