I sit alone in a black room, a small stray light hanging far above me dimly lighting the metal table I sit at. Before me is a black, sleek cube. It reflects no light and feels more like a hole in my sight.

Why am I sitting here? 

Where is here? No answers, just this small cube. 

I slowly stand and begin circling the table, studying this cube carefully. As I move its edges seem to oscillate softly, shimmering like heat off a road. 

I want to turn and investigate the rest of the room, but I feel unable to turn from this strange object, not trusting it to not do something as soon as my back is turned. 

I chew on my bottom lip, as I consider what I could do. I realize the only logical thing for me to do was to touch the cube, if all went well, then I could take it with me and investigate the room. 

My handle trembles slightly as I reach towards the black nothing sitting, almost expectantly, before me. 

As soon as my hand closes around it things go out of control. Suddenly I am lifting my hand, but no I am letting go and stepping away, no I am throwing the cube in horror, no I am collapsing and weeping. 

I was doing all of these at once. I saw me doing them, but I simply stood holding the cube. Then the cube begins to grow unstable. It’s edges becoming less defined, made of more edges than is possible, and begins expanding directly through my hand. 

The shape grows up my arm, but I am unconcerned for some reason. It does not hurt. 

Then it reaches my eyes. 

Tessellating fractals, unfolding a million million times. A crystaline structure that seems to grow ever more complex with every passing moment. 

Colors, unlike any I can even begin to imagine, flash before me. I am growing up an only child. I am graduating. I am accepting the offer to work at a theoretical physics lab. The government hired me. I accept. I volunteer for an experiment. Then I am everywhere at once. Falling through time, but never snapping into focus long enough to find where I have gone. 

It is too much. 

I shut my eyes, but the shapes continue within my mind, pushing me out.  

I can’t remember. It’s slipping.

Black. 

I sit alone in a black room, a small stray light hanging far above me dimly lighting the metal table I sit at. Before me is a black, sleek cube. It reflects no light and feels more like a hole in my sight.