Work Text:
You don't need to sleep.
That's a perk of your job.
But
Black Mesa felt oddly calm
It was quiet
Unsuspecting
The odd feeling of patience
No one was here
No one else will be here
Emptiness is oddly calming
You sat down in the breakroom.
The chair was painful to sit on.
But it grounded you.
You closed your eyes.
Dreaming wasn't something you were used to.
After all, when was the last time you wanted to feel human?
Dreaming was human.
You are not.
But here we are.
The dream was vivid
You could
Taste.
Feel.
Hear.
Smell.
And
See so painfully.
It was painful.
Because you remembered this place
It had been so long.
You are so old.
But how could you forget?
Because you wanted to.
You should not have a desire to remember.
But you do
And you want to remember.
And by what ever gods exist you will.
The beach was calm, as you always remember it.
Except for one time
But this is a peaceful dream
Not time for that.
The water lapped at your feet
But you couldn't feel it through your shoes.
But you didn't have shoes here.
Time reversed
You are young.
You are free
You were sitting in the shallows
Soaking up the sun
You had nothing to worry about
You could feel the sand beneath your feet
You could feel the coolness of the ocean
You could smell the ocean breeze
You could taste the saltiness
You wish to taste this forever
Sometimes, when no one is around
You'll buy sea salt chips
You miss the flavor
You miss those days.
The sea is quiet
You don't know how long you've been sitting
You love watching the sunset
You love watching the moon on the water
You love watching the sun rise
You eventually have to leave
But you never go far
Your house on the beach ensures that.
You have a window in the kitchen, it looks right out to the sea
You love to keep your windows open while eating
Sea salt adds flavor to everything.
You love to sit in your living room and listen to the waves, you love the sunlight and the moonlight entering your through your windows.
You love the stars, you still watch them even when it's too cold to go outside
Light pollution is nonexistent here.
You are happy.
You are free.
You are fine with whatever your future brings
Because
Because...
Because?
Because.
You will have these memories
Forever.
Right?
You see yourself.
You see everything.
You are wrong.
But not forever.
Just for now
You are in Black Mesa.
You cannot see.
But not because your eyes are closed
They are covered by your hands
Even so, you cannot see through your tears.
You do not cry.
You do not show emotions.
It is human.
What are you?
It is quiet in Black Mesa.
Calm, even.