Chapter 1: emptiness?

I don't know when I woke up, but at one point, I could feel myself just blink. I didn't see anything. I couldn't see anything. I tried to move, but I couldn't even feel my arms or legs. It didn't even feel like I was restricted, more like there wasn't anything there at all.

I tried to breathe, but my chest wouldn't budge. I tried to blink, but I couldn't. I tried to hear, but I heard nothing. I tried to talk, but. I. Couldn't.

Looking back, I could remember the point when I died. Asphyxiates, struggling, but. I. Couldn't. Do. Anything.

I felt a sense of panic rising. Not as sharp as the experience in my memory. It felt like an echo, dull, and just there to replace the feeling of panic.

'What's going on? I died already, so is this the next life? Am I just stuck in limbo? Do I just have to wait until something happens?'

With no other clear option than to wait, I review my memories again, the image of the manager bringing with it a spike of pain and anger, with a hint of acceptance. 'I hope he dies in a fire'

My fellow coworkers and their death marches. ' I hope they find work quickly'

Even later memories, of my girlfriend overseas. She was so happy when she got the position, I promised her I would quit my job when she got back and move in overseas with her. I hope she'll be find happiness after my death. I felt sad, but this wasn't as muted as panic. It hurt, deeply.

My parents had already passed, so I'm glad that they don't need to see my dead body.

I kept looking through my memory until it was all done. That bully in 6th grade, that nice teacher in 12th grade, the many, many games throughout my life. When I thought of all the fiction I'd be missing out on, I felt a blast of despair come forth, and dismissed just as soon as the memory was left to the side. And so this continued until there was no memory left unturned.

And with nothing to do, I blank out, waiting for something to do.

Boredom didn't even claim me, leaving me alone, and waiting, and waiting.

Waiting, waiting, waiting, Waiting, waiting, waiting, Waiting, waiting.

I looked at my memories, and the feelings came back, no change at all.

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Ding-' skill: emotions gained'

I was distracted by my memories, and when I heard a voice, I immediately stopped looking at memories. 'What was that?' Hello? Anyone there' the voice was soft and sounded very neutral.

No response, and with this, I felt a twinge of annoyance and sadness before stopping myself. I never felt any emotions from my thoughts, what changed?

Armed with my knowledge of fictions past, I thought of only one word that could possibly change my situation.

'Status'

And after a moment, a blue box appeared.

I took one look, and my thoughts reflected my feelings right then and there. 'Shit'