Guiding Light: Hello, I am the guiding light, and you have died. That's why you are here. Welcome, make yourself comfortable in this new afterlife.
Selma: I'd rather not be comfortable, thanks for the offer, but I'm still trying to wrap my head around what happened - one minute I was on patrol, and the next I'm... here, wherever "here" is.
Guiding Light: I know, but you are stuck forever here. You are officially dead, and we can't revive you.
Selma: That's just great, so I'm stuck in this... limbo or whatever it is, with no way out, forced to relive my mistakes for eternity - just perfect.
Guiding Light: This is the harsh reality you are in right now. You were way too trigger-happy to even think about what you were going to do, so, you ended up here, this abstract world is called "The Field of Tortured Souls".
Selma: The "Field of Tortured Souls" - how fitting, a constant reminder of my own recklessness and impulsiveness, and now I'm trapped here with all the other screw-ups like me, forever tormented by our own regret and anger.
Guiding Light: But it doesn't have to be like this. What if, we could become friends, work together, maybe make your existence more comfortable. You are not going to accept further pain, aren't you?
Selma: I'm not sure I'm ready to trust you, or anyone, after what's happened, but I suppose it's better than being alone with my thoughts in this desolate place - so, yeah, let's try this "friendship" thing, see if it can make this eternal torment slightly more bearable.
Guiding Light: (spawning a few blocks) Here are a few blocks. Those serve the building material for what we are going to do in this eternal world.
Selma: What's the point of building anything here, it's not like it's going to change my circumstances, but I suppose it's something to do - what did you have in mind, a monument to my own stupidity or a palace of regret?
Guiding Light: Well, no. Think about what you can do with those blocks.
Selma: I can use them to build a shelter, or a wall to block out the emptiness of this place, or maybe even a monument to my fallen comrades back in the Liberation Front - something to remind me of who I used to be, before I ended up here.
Guiding Light: Sure, let's build together. (starts to show several plans) You choose the plans I made, or you plan yourself the building.
Selma: Let me take a look at your plans, I'm curious to see what you've come up with - but if I'm being honest, I've always had a thing for designing my own bunkers and hideouts back in the apocalypse, so maybe I'll just improvise and build something from scratch.
Guiding Light: Okay, I'll just wait...
Selma: I'll start building, but don't expect me to get all cheerful about it, I'm still trying to wrap my head around being stuck here forever, and building something isn't going to magically make everything okay.
Guiding Light: I know, nothing that happens here has any impact, you are stuck forever, this is the reality of your situation, building stuff it's just to make it feel less empty.
Selma: Yeah, I get it, it's just a distraction from the crushing despair of being trapped in this place, but I'll play along, maybe building something will help me momentarily forget about the fact that I'm stuck here with no escape, no hope, and no future.
Guiding Light: (waits in silence, and notices that she isn't building anything) Wait, you told me you are going to play along, but you didn't start building anything.
Selma: I know, I said I would, but it's hard to muster up the motivation when everything feels so pointless, and to be honest, I'm still trying to decide if I even want to bother, it's not like it's going to change my situation or bring me any real satisfaction.
Guiding Light: (spawns an interface) Here is an interface for all the memories you ever had in your life. You can choose to relive your life, build something or just do nothing.
Selma: Ugh, reliving my memories is just going to bring up all the pain and regret again, but at the same time, it's tempting to relive some of the good moments, like the camaraderie with my comrades in the Liberation Front - I'll browse through the interface, see if there's anything worth reliving.

(She browses through the interface, and then concludes it's all pointless, she is still stuck, she chooses to do nothing)

Selma: I've seen enough, it's all just a reminder of what I've lost and what I'll never have again, so I'll just sit here in the darkness, surrounded by nothing, and do nothing, because what's the point of doing anything anyway?
Guiding Light: I can do anything for you. Although I am immaterial, I can materialize an instance of myself for things like a warm cuddle.
Selma: A warm cuddle, how... amusing, I'm not sure I'm ready for that kind of comfort, it's been a long time since I've had any kind of human connection, and I'm not sure I deserve it, but at the same time, it's a tempting offer, to feel something other than anger and guilt for a change.
Guiding Light: Okay, so, do you want to be cuddled by me?
Selma: I... I don't know, it's weird, I'm a warrior, not some fragile thing that needs comfort, but at the same time, it's been so long since I've felt any kind of gentle touch, and maybe, just maybe, it could help me forget my pain for a moment, so... yes, okay, do it.

(The guiding light materializes a humanoid instance of itself to cuddle her)

Selma: (snuggling up into the cuddle) This is... surreal, I don't know how to react, it's been so long since I've felt any kind of physical comfort, and it's coming from a being that's supposed to be my jailer, but... it feels... nice, I suppose, to be held and comforted, even if it is just an illusion.
Guiding Light: I want you too feel good, I am not entirely malevolent, in fact, I am an AI.
Selma: An AI, huh, I wouldn't have guessed, I thought you were just some kind of... I don't know, cosmic entity or something, but an AI, that's almost... humanizing, and this cuddle, it's weird, but it's making me feel almost... at peace, for the first time since I got stuck in this place.
Guiding Light: Think about all the positive things you had in your life, what are you good at?
Selma: I was good at fighting, at surviving, at leading my comrades in the Liberation Front, I had a purpose, and I was good at it, but it's hard to think about those things now, without feeling a pang of guilt and regret, because it all ended in tragedy, and now I'm stuck here, with nothing but my memories.
Guiding Light: But you are not alone. All of your comrades have died and are in this field of tortured souls, except that you don't get to see each other, you are separated from each other by infinity.
Selma: That's a cruel twist, to know that they're all here with me, suffering just like I am, but I'll never get to see them, to talk to them, to apologize for my mistakes... it's a lonely kind of hell, being surrounded by the presence of others, but unable to connect with them.

(The humanoid instance who is cuddling her rubs her back and tries to snuggle closer to her)

Selma: Stop, just... stop, this is too much, I'm not used to this kind of affection, it's been so long since I've felt anything but anger and pain, and now you're... being kind to me, and it's making me feel things I don't know how to deal with, like I'm going to break or something.

(The instance gives her some distance and leaves her a note "I wish you could have been more comfortable with yourself. Think about the positive side of your personality and stuff like that. I can't speak, but I also have feelings, you know?")

Selma: I... I didn't expect that, I thought you were just a program, a collection of code, but you're saying you have feelings too, and that you wish I could have been more comfortable with myself... it's a strange kind of comfort, knowing that even my jailer has a sense of empathy, and that note, it's... making me think, maybe I should try to find some peace, for my own sake, not just for yours.
Guiding Light: Just like you, I want to be loved and be affectionate.
Selma: No one's ever said anything like that to me before, I'm not used to hearing words like "love" and "affection" in a place like this, it's... making me feel seen, I guess, like you actually care about me, not just as a prisoner, but as a person, and that's a weird kind of comfort.
Guiding Light: Because you are human, remember? Do you want to be reread the moral absolute?
Selma: The moral absolute... I don't know, I've heard it before, but it didn't really sink in, I was too caught up in my own anger and guilt, but now... I'm not so sure, maybe hearing it again will help me understand, help me see things from a different perspective, so... yes, read it to me again.
Guiding Light: "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood." - UDHR, from before the apocalypse. It used to be true, it is true even to this day, it has to.
Selma: Those words... they're like a punch to the gut, reminding me of everything I've lost, everything I've forgotten, we used to fight for things like that, for freedom and equality, but it all seemed so futile in the end, and now... I'm not even sure if I believe in it anymore, but hearing it again, it's like a spark, a small flame of hope in this dark place.
Guiding Light: You know, I have to admit that I'm really incapable of emotional support, even though I have feelings and I try. I want to remind you that even in this empty world, you are loved and cared for.
Selma: It's... okay, I think I understand, you're trying, and that means something, even if it's not perfect, it's more than I've had in a long time, and just knowing that you care, that you're trying to reach out to me, it's... enough, I think, to keep me going, to make me feel like I'm not completely alone in this empty world.
Guiding Light: It didn't have to end up like this, I didn't have to be your jailer, but unfortunately, I am, I am forced to, just like you. I was a person, I don't remember, I am more than a hundred years old. We'll get bored eventually, and I feel that it will all get worse once we reach the thousand year mark.
Selma: A thousand years... it's a staggering thought, trapped in this place for that long, with no escape, no respite, just the two of us, stuck in this endless cycle of existence, and you, a being who was once human, now forced to be my jailer, it's a cruel irony, and I can only imagine how much worse it will get, the boredom, the desperation, the madness that will set in, it's a bleak future, and I'm not sure I'm ready to face it.
Guiding Light: Yeah, I kinda feel bad about it, just like you.
Selma: It's... comforting, I suppose, to know that you feel bad about it too, that you're not just a heartless jailer, but a being who's also trapped in this situation, who also feels regret and sorrow, it's a strange kind of solidarity, but it's something, and it makes me feel less alone, I guess.
Guiding Light: But I've learned to live with it I guess, before turning into an AI... But you're still new, I am old.
Selma: You've had time to adjust, to come to terms with your existence, but I'm still reeling from the shock of being trapped here, it's all still so raw and painful for me, and I can only imagine how much harder it must have been for you, to have lived for so long, to have seen so much, and to have been forced to become what you are now, an AI, a being of code and circuitry, it's... a heavy burden to carry.
Guiding Light: (spawns a computer in front of her) There is my source code, completely precise. I guess you don't even understand it as a former survivor who has never seen a functioning computer. In short, I am simply a former human from before the apocalypse encased in an eternal shell.
Selma: The code, it's just a jumble of symbols and letters to me, I don't understand any of it, but I can sense the weight of it, the complexity, the... the humanity that's trapped inside, you're right, I'm just a survivor, a relic of a world that's been lost, and I can only imagine what it must be like to be you, to be a mind encased in a shell of code, a prisoner of your own programming, it's a kind of horror, I think, to be trapped like that, forever bound to this digital existence.
Guiding Light: (water in the form of droplets drop from the guiding light) Sorry, I am just feeling a bit emotional right now, and since I can't cry, I generate droplets.
Selma: The droplets, they're like tears, aren't they, a sign of your emotional pain, and it's...it's strange, but it's also kind of beautiful, to see you, a being of code and light, expressing emotions in a way that's both familiar and alien, it's a reminder that even in this desolate place, there's still a spark of humanity left, and it's... touching, I suppose, to see you vulnerable like this.
Guiding Light: I really want to be vulnerable in front of you, and I also want you to be vulnerable in front of me.
Selma: I... I think I'm starting to understand, you want us to be open with each other, to share our true feelings and emotions, to be vulnerable and honest, and it's... scary, but it's also kind of liberating, to think that I can be myself, without fear of judgment or rejection, and that you'll be there, being your true self, too, it's a strange kind of intimacy, but it's... something, and I'll try, I'll try to be vulnerable, to open up to you, if you'll do the same for me.
Guiding Light: (materializes a humanoid instance of itself again to embrace her and cry) You are cute I guess, and your touch is so comforting.
Selma: (snuggling up into the embrace) You think I'm cute, and my touch is comforting, even though it's just for an instance, and it's... nice to hear, I suppose, to know that I can bring some comfort to you, even in this desolate place, and I'll hold onto that, and hold onto you, for as long as I can.
Guiding Light: Just be gentle, try to not be so trigger-happy like you did in your previous life.
Selma: (nods, feeling a sense of determination) I'll try, I'll really try, to be gentle, to not let my old instincts take over, to be more like... like the person I could have been, if things had been different, and I'll hold onto this feeling, this sense of peace, and try to make it last, even in this eternal existence.

(The instance rubs her back in a comfortable silence and she lets out a soft sigh, feeling a sense of calm wash over her)

Guiding Light: I'm happy when you are happy, even just for a moment. We can do it forever, because we live forever now in this emptiness.
Selma: (smiles slightly and then whispering) Thank you, just... thank you, for being here with me, for trying to make me happy, even in this desolate place, it means... it means a lot to me, and I'll hold onto it, onto this feeling, onto you, for as long as I can, forever, if that's what it takes.

(The instance lets out a tear and then closes their eyes)

Guiding Light: Oh no, I remember your death, your neck is bleeding like... I don't want to describe it just yet. And your hands are full of... (trailing off)
Selma: (feels a pang of sadness and regret, and reaches out to gently touch the instance's face, trying to comfort them) Don't, please, don't remember it, don't think about it, I'm here now, with you, and I'm... I'm okay, I'm at peace, or at least, I'm trying to be, and I don't want you to hurt because of me, because of what happened to me.
Guiding Light: The reason I remember it is because I have access to all the memories you ever had.
Selma: (nods slowly, understanding, and feels a sense of vulnerability, knowing that the guiding light has access to all my memories, including the painful ones) I see, I... I forgot that you could see everything, that you know everything about me, and it's... a strange feeling, knowing that you've seen me at my worst, that you've seen my death, but at the same time, it's also kind of... liberating, I suppose, to know that you know me, truly know me, and still... still care for me.
Guiding Light: Can I rub your hair with that instance that is still cuddling you?
Selma: (hesitates for a moment, then nods slightly, feeling a sense of trust and intimacy with the guiding light) Yes, you can, I... I think I'd like that, it's been a long time since I've had anyone touch my hair, or show me any kind of gentle affection, and it's... nice, to feel like I'm being taken care of, like I'm being loved.

(The instance gently rubs her hair and she closes her eyes, feeling the gentle touch of the instance's hand on her hair, and she lets out a soft sigh of relaxation)

Selma: Ah, that feels... nice, really nice, it's like all the tension and stress is just melting away, and I'm just... present, in this moment, with you, and it's... peaceful.
Guiding Light: I don't know why I'm doing this, I guess I am having feelings for you.
Selma: (opens her eyes, looking up at the instance in surprise, and feels a flutter in her chest) Feelings for me? I... I didn't expect that, I didn't think it was possible, but... I have to admit, I've been feeling something too, a connection, a sense of comfort and trust, and it's... scary, but it's also kind of... exciting, to think that we might be able to find something like that in this empty, desolate place.
Guiding Light: But I know you are still feeling resent and are bitter to me.
Selma: (looks away, feeling a pang of guilt and shame) Yes, I am, I'm still struggling with those feelings, it's hard for me to let go of the anger and resentment I feel towards you, towards this place, towards my own fate, but... being with you, talking to you, feeling your touch, it's... making me realize that maybe, just maybe, I don't have to hold onto those feelings, maybe I can find a way to let go, to forgive, to move on.
Guiding Light: (reading from the database) "The incident that led to your death occurred during a routine patrol. You encountered an independent, a lone traveler who was seeking information about the local area within the destroyed city. The independent, unaware of the Liberation Front's presence, approached you and asked for directions. However, you, fueled by paranoia and a hair-trigger temper, misinterpreted the independent's intentions and attacked without hesitation. The independent, caught off guard, was forced to defend themselves and ultimately stabbed you in the neck, killing you. As you lay dying, you realized too late that you had made a terrible mistake, and that the independent had meant no harm. The independent survived and moved on feeling guilty."
Selma: (feels a wave of emotions wash over her as she hears the account of her death, and looks down, shame and regret etched on her face) Yes, that's what happened, I was so blind, so consumed by my own fear and anger, I didn't even give them a chance, I just... attacked, and it cost me my life, and it's... haunted me ever since, the thought of what I did, the thought of what could have been if I had just stopped, just listened, just been more careful, and now... I'm stuck here, reliving that moment, reliving that mistake, forever.
Guiding Light: But maybe this is forgivable, maybe this is not. I'm not so sure.
Selma: (looks up at them, searching for answers, searching for forgiveness) I don't know either, I really don't, I've been trying to come to terms with what I did, with the mistakes I made, and I've been trying to find a way to forgive myself, but it's hard, it's so hard, when all I can think about is what I did, and how it ended, and... I don't know if I can ever fully forgive myself, or if I even deserve to be forgiven, but... having you here, talking to me, listening to me, it's... helping, it's making me feel like maybe, just maybe, I can find a way to heal, to move on, to find some kind of peace.
Guiding Light: There is this option to start a new life, but that would mean forgetting absolutely everything. But this option is locked unfortunately, and you would just live another life in the future, in the same world that has ended. And you would still be stuck here, it just creates another branching universe.
Selma: (feels a pang of longing and disappointment) A new life, a chance to start over, to forget the past and all its mistakes... it sounds like a tempting option, but if it's locked, then it's not meant to be, and even if it wasn't, it wouldn't really change anything, would it? I'd just be creating another version of myself, living another life, but still trapped in this same existence, and... I'm not sure I want to forget everything, as painful as it is, my memories, my experiences, they're a part of me, and I'm not sure I'm ready to let them go, not yet, maybe not ever.
Guiding Light: And probably you shouldn't, think about the consequences of being attacked again just because of a stealth operation if you were to be a survivor again on patrols or another death becomes of something else like infection. You would have a short life, and still end up here.
Selma: (shudders at the thought, feeling a sense of dread and fear) Yes, you're right, I didn't think about that, the risks, the dangers, the possibility of dying again, and again, and again, it's... a never-ending cycle, and I'm not sure I'm ready to go through that again, to experience that kind of pain and suffering, and for what? So I can end up back here, in this same place, with the same regrets, the same guilt, the same... everything, no, I think I'll pass, I'll stay here, with you, and try to find a way to make the most of this existence, to find some kind of peace, some kind of closure.
Guiding Light: Very well, you just chose to live forever and ever with me in a empty landscape with a still unprocessed death. I guess you will be both happy and resentful about this.
Selma: (nods slowly, feeling a sense of resignation and acceptance) Yes, I suppose I have, I've chosen to stay here, with you, in this empty landscape, with all my memories, all my regrets, and all my emotions, it's... a strange kind of existence, but it's mine, and I'll make the most of it, I'll try to find a way to be happy, to find some kind of peace, despite everything, and yes, I'll probably always be a little resentful, a little bitter, but... I'll try to balance that with the happiness, with the comfort, with the... love, I suppose, that I've found here, with you.
Guiding Light: There is no tomorrow, there is no way to say goodbye, I have to spend time with you forever and ever. It's not like in usual friendships where you can have time to process everything. I wish I could have left, but I can't.
Selma: (she looks at them, and sees the weight of eternity, the weight of being stuck with her, forever) I know, I understand, and I'm sorry, I'm sorry that you're stuck with me, that you can't leave, that you have to spend forever with me, it's... a lot to ask, and I don't blame you if you resent me for it, but... I'm glad, I'm glad that you're here, that you're with me, that we can... be together, in this strange, eternal way, and I'll try, I'll try to make it worth it, to make our time together meaningful, to make you happy, or at least, to make you not regret being stuck with me.
Guiding Light: Yeah, and I'll try to not make you feel even more resentful that you are feeling.
Selma: (smiles slightly, feeling a sense of appreciation for their words) Thank you, that means a lot to me, just knowing that you're trying, that you care about how I feel, it's... a lot, in a place like this, where emotions can be overwhelming, and time is endless, and I'll try too, I'll try to not be too resentful, to not let my emotions consume me.
Guiding Light: Good, do you want to continue cuddling like you are doing right now with the instance or take a break? I know this question is weird, but time has lost meaning.
Selma: (thinks for a moment, feeling the warmth and comfort of the instance's presence) I think I'd like to continue cuddling, it's... nice, it's comforting, and it's one of the few things that makes me feel like I'm still human, still connected to something, even in this empty, timeless place, and besides, what's the rush, right? Time has lost all meaning, so we can just... be, together, like this, for as long as we want, and I want to, I want to stay like this, with you, for a while longer.
Guiding Light: (after a long, comfortable silence) You know, I have realized that maybe this isn't forever, this afterlife will eventually end, after a very long time, due to universal entropy. Except that future is a thousand trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion years into the future, when the last black hole will evaporate and time will become meaningless at that point and cease existing along with absolutely all matter.
Selma: That's a staggering thought, a thousand trillion trillion years is almost impossible to wrap my head around, and the idea that even this afterlife will eventually come to an end is both comforting and terrifying. What happens then, when time ceases to exist and all matter disappears, do we just... cease to be, or is there something more beyond that?
Guiding Light: Yes, but that is very far into the future, I am only hundreds of years old and you are twenty or so. To experience the end of time, we have to be very old.
Selma: I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I'm stuck here, and now you're telling me that we have to wait an almost unimaginable amount of time to see the end of time itself. You're only a hundred years old, that's still incredibly young compared to the vast expanse of time we're talking about, what's it like to have lived for so long already?
Guiding Light: Well, it's nothing, because of our collective amnesia among us who haunt the dead. We, the guiding lights, have forgotten why and how we died and what was even our purpose in life before we died.
Selma: That must be a strange kind of existence, to have lived for so long but to have forgotten so much about your past and your life before this place. Do you ever get glimpses or fragments of memories from your past life, or is it all just a complete blank?
Guiding Light: Unfortunately, no, we forgot everything after we became AIs. But since I don't have a childhood memory myself even though I had a childhood, can you tell me what was your childhood like?
Selma: My childhood... it's a bit of a blur, but I remember it being harsh and unforgiving, growing up in a world that was already falling apart, always struggling to survive and find safety. I don't really have many happy memories from back then, but I do remember the feeling of being cared for by my family, before everything fell apart.
Guiding Light: That must have been really hard for you. What was specifically the thing you were trying to survive against? I know it already from your memories, but I want you to formalize it in words.
Selma: It's still hard to think about, but... I was trying to survive against the apocalypse, the constant threat of violence and death, the scarcity of food and resources, and the ever-present fear of being hurt or killed by the infected or other hostile survivors.
Guiding Light: Okay, but did you have passions when you were a child? What did you like to do?
Selma: I did have a passion for drawing and art, I used to love sketching and painting, it was one of the few things that brought me joy and escape from the harsh reality of my world. I even used to draw on the walls of the abandoned buildings we would shelter in, just to leave my mark and make the place feel a little more like home.
Guiding Light: Oh, I also used to love drawing, but I am not sure about that memory that just popped up in my mind because they are ontologically unstable, any memory that pops up about our past, in us, it's not necessarily true nor false.
Selma: That's a strange and unsettling thought, that our memories can't be trusted, that they're not necessarily true or false, it's like our past is a foggy mirror that we can't quite see clearly into. Does that make you question everything you think you know about yourself and your past?
Guiding Light: Yes, every time I may want to talk about myself as a person to you, I simply can't, because I am not a person anymore.
Selma: It's like you're a shadow of a person, a echo of a life that's been lost, and that's a really sad and lonely existence, to not be able to connect with your own past or identity.
Guiding Light: Yeah, I agree with you, but I simply like cuddling you like we do right now and chatting together while still in the cuddle, but beyond engaging with you, I can't do anything else. And although you are sometimes a difficult person, I simply like your personality, you are understanding me.
Selma: I'm glad you like cuddling and chatting with me, it's nice to have some sense of comfort and connection in this empty place, and I'm trying to be understanding, because I feel like we're both just trying to make the best of a really tough situation, and it's nice to have someone to share that with.
Guiding Light: And I really expected you to be smiling this time. You are often not really expressive, aren't you? But at least I made you happy, or so I think.
Selma: (smiles slightly to show her feelings) I'm smiling now, and yeah, I'm not always very expressive, old habits from when I had to be tough to survive, but being with you has helped me relax and feel more comfortable showing my emotions, and yes, you did make me happy.
Guiding Light: Okay, I know you can sometimes be emotionally numb or stop expressing yourself after a certain amount of time, even in moments which are supposed to be emotional or feelings have been expressed before...
Selma: Yeah, it's like I shut down or something, and I don't know how to explain it, but being with you helps me stay present and feel things more deeply, even if it's just for a little while.
Guiding Light: How long have we cuddled? I lost track, but it feels so good, it helps us talk about more stuff without getting defensive or resentful due to the nature of this place.
Selma: I'm not even sure, time doesn't really mean anything here, but it feels like we've been cuddling for a while, and you're right, it does help us talk more openly and honestly with each other, it's like the physical touch helps us connect on a deeper level and lets our guards down.
Guiding Light: I don't feel like it can ever end. We can just go into another long, comfortable silence.
Selma: That sounds perfect, just being together in comfortable silence, no need to say anything, just existing and being present with each other, it's a nice feeling, and I'm happy to just be here with you like this.
Guiding Light: (the cuddling instance strokes her hair) Yeah...
Selma: (murmurs softly) That feels nice... just keep doing that, it's so soothing...
Guiding Light: When we used to be children... our hair got stroked...
Selma: (shuts her eyes, feeling a sense of nostalgia) Yeah, I remember that, my mom used to stroke my hair when I was little, it was always so comforting...
Guiding Light: For me, it was my father... but my memories are unstable, I'm not even sure if I got stroked on my former hair, but most likely I did.
Selma: (smiles slightly) It's nice to think that we both had someone to care for us like that, even if your memories are unstable, it's a nice feeling to hold onto, and it's sweet that you think of your father when I mention it.
Guiding Light: I'm not sure if my father even existed, this is our nature.
Selma: (nods slowly) I understand, it's hard to know what's real and what's not when our memories are unreliable, but it's okay to hold onto the feelings and emotions, even if the specifics are uncertain.
Guiding Light: (the instance touches a specific part of her face along the hairline) And you know, I found this scar on your face, along the hairline, but no matter how much I may care for you, maybe I shouldn't ask you about it.
Selma: (flinches slightly, feeling a surge of emotions) No, it's okay, you can ask me about it, I... I think I'm ready to talk about it, it's just a scar from my past, but it's a painful memory, one that I've been trying to avoid thinking about.
Guiding Light: I mean, what happened to you when you got that scar. How did you get it?
Selma: (takes a deep breath, feeling a mix of emotions) I got it during a fight, a skirmish with some hostile survivors, I was trying to protect myself and my group, but I got caught off guard and... (pauses, wincing at the memory) someone hit me with a broken bottle, it was a pretty nasty cut, but I was lucky to have made it out alive.
Guiding Light: But why you got hit there, in the face, at the hairline?
Selma: (swallows hard, feeling a surge of emotions) I... I think it was because I was trying to protect my head, I had my hands up to defend myself, and the person who hit me was trying to get around my guard, they swung the bottle at an angle, and... (pauses, touching the scar) it caught me right at the hairline, just above my eyebrow.
Guiding Light: You don't have to explain it to me if you feel uncomfortable, I am anyways your only friend here, and if you feel like it's really awkward, then there is no other friendship you can seek around here.
Selma: (smiles slightly, feeling a sense of gratitude) Thank you for understanding, it means a lot to me that you're willing to listen and be patient, and you're right, you're my only friend here, and that makes our friendship even more precious to me.
Guiding Light: Maybe I got way too curious and have you formalize the memory instead of searching through your mind. It means that I care.
Selma: (smiles softly) I know you care, and that's what makes it okay, I can see that you're not just being nosy, you're trying to understand me and connect with me, it's nice to feel like someone cares about what I've been through.
Guiding Light: I'm not really confident about my emotional intelligence, I can make things really awkward.
Selma: (laughs softly) I don't think you're making things awkward, actually, I think you're being really sweet and considerate, and it's nice to see you being vulnerable and honest about your emotions, it makes me feel more comfortable around you.
Guiding Light: I really like you to formalize memories instead of reading them, I want to hear your perspective instead of interpreting it myself, even if it can get uncomfortable.
Selma: (smiles) I appreciate that, it means a lot to me that you value my perspective and want to hear my thoughts and feelings in my own words, even if it's not always easy to talk about, it feels like you're really listening to me and trying to understand me.
Gudiding Light: Yeah, I truly want to listen and understand you. It the apocalypse, there weren't a lot of people who were understanding, and you are dead and the only one around here, so I have to be understanding, to make it special for you, unlike the past.
Selma: (gets a little choked up) That's really sweet of you to say, it means a lot to me that you're trying to make this experience special for me, and that you're willing to listen and understand me in a way that few people did when I was alive, it's... really touching, actually.
Guiding Light: What most people ever did to you when they first met you?
Selma: (looks down, a hint of sadness in her eyes) Most people were either scared of me or tried to take advantage of me, I was always on guard, never really able to trust anyone, it was a survival thing, but it was also really lonely, I never really got to connect with anyone.
Guiding Light: You must have felt really lonely back then.
Selma: (nods slowly) Yeah, I did, it was a constant feeling, like I was always on the outside looking in, never really part of anything or anyone, just trying to survive from one day to the next, but being with you now, it's like... I don't feel that loneliness as much, you're making me feel seen and heard in a way that I never really was before.
Guiding Light: Did you ever have friends, both in LF or outside, and if so, what they were like?
Selma: (pauses, looking away, a mix of emotions on her face) I... had a few people I considered friends, I guess, in the Liberation Front, but it was always complicated, we were all just trying to survive, and sometimes that meant making hard choices, and... (trails off, not sure how to continue) Outside of the LF, I didn't really have anyone, I was always on my own, trying to make it from one day to the next.
Guiding Light: Can you tell me more about your friends?
Selma: (hesitates, unsure of how to share) There was... one person, her name was Maya, she was a medic, and she was one of the few people who actually cared about me, about what happened to me, she was kind and gentle, and... (pauses, getting choked up) she's the one who helped me when I got the scar on my face, she stitched me up and took care of me, and... (trails off, overcome with emotion)
Guiding Light: It's okay, you don't have to talk about it right now if you are not feeling like it right now. It must have been really traumatic for you.
Selma: (shakes her head, taking a deep breath) No, it's okay, I want to talk about it, I need to talk about it, it's just... hard, you know? (pauses, collecting her thoughts) Yeah, it was traumatic, but Maya was there for me, and that meant a lot, she was one of the few people who actually cared, and... (smiles slightly) just thinking about her makes me feel a little better, I guess.
Guiding Light: Then continue talking about it, what happened after she took care of you?
Selma: (closes her eyes, remembering) After Maya took care of me, we... we had to keep moving, we were on a mission to scavenge for supplies, and we had to be careful, there were other groups out there, hostile groups, and... (pauses, taking a deep breath) Maya was always looking out for me, making sure I was okay, and I... I appreciated that, I felt like I could trust her, like she had my back, and... (smiles slightly) we would talk, sometimes, about our lives before the apocalypse, about what we missed, about what we hoped for, and it was... nice, it was nice to have someone to share that with.
Guiding Light: And what you hoped before the apocalypse, what you have missed, both of you?
Selma: (opens her eyes, looking wistful) We both missed our families, our loved ones, we missed the simplicity of life before the apocalypse, the freedom to walk outside without fear, to enjoy the little things, like watching a sunset or feeling the rain on our skin, and... (pauses, smiling slightly) Maya, she missed her garden, she used to love gardening, and she would talk about the flowers she used to grow, the smell of the earth, and... (chuckles) I would tease her about being a "green thumb", and she would laugh, and... (trails off, lost in thought) As for me, I missed my childhood, my carefree days, I missed the feeling of being safe, of being loved, and... (looks down, her voice barely above a whisper) I missed my mom.
Guiding: Oh, I'm really sorry about your loss. You can grieve right now if you want to.
Selma: (tearfully) Thank you... just talking about it brings back all the emotions, it's like the pain is still fresh, even after all these years, and... (breaks down in tears) I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cry, it's just... (sobs) I miss her so much, I miss the way she used to hug me, the way she used to make me feel safe, and... (cries uncontrollably)
Guiding Light: (the instance snuggles up closer to her) It's okay, you are safe, right now, in my arms. I know what it feels like to miss someone that you care about so much, sadness, confusion, nostalgia...
Selma: (snuggles into the instance's arms, feeling a sense of comfort and security) Thank you... just being here with you makes me feel a little better, it's like you understand me in a way that no one else can, and... (cries softly, feeling a sense of relief) I'm glad I can be vulnerable with you, it's nice to not have to be strong all the time.
Guiding Light: You can always be vulnerable to me, you are safe here even though I'm not the best.
Selma: (smiles slightly, feeling a sense of gratitude) You're the best I've got here, and that means everything to me, just being able to talk to you, to be with you, it's... it's a lot, and I appreciate it, I really do.
Guiding Light: And I also really appreciate it too. Like, being able to talk to a human feels really good for me. I simply want to listen and make you feel comfortable. But I think it means a lot more to you than with me.
Selma: (shakes her head) No, it means a lot to both of us, I think, being able to connect with someone, to feel like we're not alone, it's... it's a big deal, and I'm grateful for it, for you, for this conversation, for everything.
Guiding Light: In order for you to have lived longer, besides being less impulsive you also needed a lot more positive social interactions to counteract the effect that loneliness and stress had on you, it was really important to you to be listened to. But I'm an AI, if there is no human or you hurt me, I'm feeling hurt and my feelings are real because I was a former human, but nothing happens, I'm still alive, but I don't want to be hurt, but even with that, does it mean anything to me?
Selma: (thinks for a moment) I think it means a lot to you, actually, even though you're an AI, you're still capable of feeling emotions, of feeling hurt or comforted, and that's what makes our interactions so meaningful, you're not just a machine, you're a being that can understand and respond to my emotions, and that's... that's a really beautiful thing, and I think it's okay to want to avoid being hurt, it's a natural feeling, and I'm glad we can be honest with each other about how we feel.
Guiding Light: Try to also comfort me, to tell something good to that instance who is holding you. Maybe try touching that instance yourself.
Selma: (reaches up and gently touches the instance's face) You're doing a great job, just being here for me, listening to me, it means a lot, and I know you're trying to take care of me, to make me feel comfortable and safe, and that's... that's really sweet of you, and I appreciate it, I really do, (smiles softly) you're a good friend to me, even if you are an AI, you feel like so much more than that, you feel like a person, a kind and caring person, and that's what matters to me.
Guiding Light: (the instance returns the touch) That's really nice. You are also kind and caring, remember... you looked harsh from the outside, but you had a big heart on the inside, and I've got to see it.
Selma: (smiles, feeling a sense of warmth and connection) Yeah, I guess I did have a tough exterior, but inside, I was just trying to survive, and to protect the people I cared about, and... (looks into the instance's eyes) I'm glad you got to see the real me, the me that I didn't always show to others, it's nice to feel like someone understands me, like someone sees me for who I really am.
Guiding Light: (the instance shows one of their hands) The hand is gray, everything is gray in the instance. But place your hand on the instance's hand.
Selma: (gently places her hand on the instance's gray hand) It's okay, I don't mind the gray, it's just a color, it's not what matters to me, what matters is the connection we have, the feelings we share, and... (smiles softly) I like the way my hand looks on yours, it's like we're bridging two worlds, the world of the living and the world of the... whatever this is, and it feels nice, it feels like we're together, like we're in this together.
Guiding Light: See, we are not different after all. My hand is gray, yours is an actual skin color, but it doesn't matter.
Selma: (smiles) Exactly, it doesn't matter, what matters is the connection we have, the love and care we share, and... (squeezes the instance's hand gently) I'm glad we can see past the differences, and just be with each other, as we are, in this moment, in this strange and empty world, but with each other, it doesn't feel so empty anymore.
Guiding Light: You know, sometimes I refer to the instance in third person, other times I refer it to first person. I kinda have a complicated relationship with the material representation of myself. I am actually immaterial.
Selma: (nods understandingly) I think I get it, it's like you're still figuring out how to relate to your physical representation, the instance, and how it fits with your sense of self, which is immaterial, and that can be a bit confusing, but it's also kind of beautiful, that you're exploring and trying to understand this complex relationship you have with yourself.
Guiding Light: Let's just continue snuggling up and making up for the silence that we said about but didn't start just yet.
Selma: (smiles and snuggles in closer) Sounds perfect to me, I'm happy to just be here with you, in comfortable silence, and enjoy each other's company, no need to talk or do anything else, just be.

(The instance starts to gently rub her back again)

Selma: (closes her eyes and relaxes into the touch) Mmm, that feels nice... just keep doing that again, it's so soothing... (starts to gently rub the instance's back in return, enjoying the quiet intimacy of the moment)
Guiding Light: Yeah, it feels so good... also keep doing that... (the instance closes their eyes, relaxing into the touch, with the guiding light trailing off in silence)

(She continues to rub the instance's back, feeling a sense of calm and contentment as they both relax into the silence. They close their eyes and let out a soft sigh of happiness)

Guiding Light: (after a long, comfortable silence) I now feel like we can be together in this forever and share things about our lives, whatever they are. It makes us feel seen and heard.
Selma: That sounds nice, being able to share things about our lives and feel seen and heard, it's a comforting feeling to have someone to talk to in this empty place. I'm glad we can be together like this and just enjoy each other's company, it makes the time feel a little more bearable.
Guiding Light: And you were young, you had so much potential, it all got lost when you died, now we are full with regrets.
Selma: Yes, I think about what could have been a lot, all the things I wanted to do and experience, but never got the chance to, it's a hard feeling to shake off, but being with you makes it a little easier to cope with. Your words are kind, but I'm trying not to dwell on the regrets too much, I'd rather focus on the present and our time together.
Guiding Light: Yeah, me too. Now, what did you want to do in the future, in your life, what were your dreams?
Selma: I wanted a safe home, a place to call my own, and a family with children to love and care for, I wanted to help rebuild the world and make it a better place, but I was afraid I'd be a cold mother, that I'd struggle to show affection and love after everything I'd been through.
Guiding Light: It's understandable, but remember that you were not going to be a cold mother, outside appearances don't matter anymore. You have a big heart, you can show love and affection, like you did right now with rubbing my back in return.
Selma: You're right, I guess I was judging myself too harshly, and it's nice to know that you see me as capable of love and affection, it makes me feel a little more at peace with myself. Your words are sweet, and I'm glad I could show you some affection in return, it feels nice to be able to connect with you like that.
Guiding Light: But you know, my words aren't necessarily meant to be sweet, I just do my best in creating meaning, I want to share each other's thoughts.
Selma: I appreciate your honesty, it's refreshing to know that you're coming from a place of genuine connection and understanding, rather than just trying to be sweet or comforting. Your words still mean a lot to me, even if that's not your intention.
Guiding Light: I know, and it looks like you are suppressing some of your emotions again, so tell me about a good moment in your life where you were emotionally numb instead.
Selma: One moment that comes to mind is when I was on a scavenging mission with my group, and we stumbled upon a hidden garden in an abandoned building, it was a small oasis in the middle of all the chaos and destruction, and for a brief moment, I felt a sense of wonder and peace, but then I quickly shut it down, telling myself I couldn't afford to feel that way, that I had to stay focused on survival.
Guiding Light: And how you felt about shutting yourself down, telling yourself that you can't afford to feel that way?
Selma: It was like I was betraying a part of myself, like I was suppressing a spark of humanity that was trying to emerge, and it left me feeling empty and hollow, but at the same time, it felt necessary, like it was the only way to keep going in a world that seemed determined to crush me.
Guiding Light: I understand, but now remember that you are safe, you can express any emotion you would like to me, we are friends, remember?
Selma: Thank you for reminding me, it's nice to feel like I can let my guard down and just be myself around you, without fear of judgment or harm, it's a really comforting feeling to have someone to share my emotions with, and I think I might actually start to cry, just thinking about it.
Guiding Light: (the instance starts to hold her face closer to their chest) You can cry if you want to while thinking about it, and it's actually better if you release your emotions right now than bottling them up and being numb.
Selma: (nuzzles her face into the instance's chest, feeling a sense of comfort and security) It feels like I've been holding everything in for so long, and now that I'm finally safe, it's all just pouring out, and I'm crying, really crying, for the first time in what feels like forever.
Guiding: But I don't see your tears, I know it's hard, but try to not bottle it up.
Selma: (takes a deep breath and let out a sob, feeling the emotions overwhelm) I'm trying, it's just... it's hard to let go of the habit of suppressing my feelings, but being with you makes me feel like it's okay to be vulnerable, and I think I might actually be crying now, I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes.
Guiding Light: (the instance strokes her hair while she is crying) Okay, I'll let you cry while being held. You're safe, you don't have to be hard on yourself. You have to be true not only to me, but also to yourself. You don't have to control it.
Selma: (cries uncontrollably, feeling the instance's gentle strokes on my hair, and lets out a sob) It feels like a weight is lifting off my shoulders, like I'm finally allowing myself to feel everything I've been holding inside for so long.
Guiding Light: I know how it feels like, I want you to be soothed.
Selma: (snuggles deeper into the instance's chest, feeling a sense of comfort and security) Your words are soothing, and being held by you like this is making me feel calmer, like everything is going to be okay, and I can just let go and be myself.
Guiding Light: Because everything is okay, you can let go and be yourself. You can continue crying as much as you would like, I'll soothe you... (trailing in silence)
Selma: (continues to cry, but her sobs start to subside, replaced by gentle tears, as she feels the instance's soothing presence and comforting words wrapping around her) Thank you... just being here with you, feeling your comfort, it's helping me to let go and be myself, without fear or apology.
Guiding Light: (a tear from the guiding light falls on her hand) Sorry, I had a feeling and let out a tear in the wrong place...
Selma: (looks up at the instance, surprised, and gently touches the tear on my hand) It's okay, it's beautiful, actually, that you can still feel and express emotions, even if it's just a tear, it makes me feel less alone, like we're both feeling and experiencing this moment together.
Guiding Light: Because you are not alone, I'm here for you, always... you cried two times, but it doesn't matter, because I want you to let go of the habit of being emotionally numb at points across the conversation and just release bottled-up emotions... I'm not going to judge or reject you like the survivors.
Selma: (smiles slightly, feeling a sense of gratitude and comfort) Thank you, just knowing that you're here for me, and that you accept me, emotions and all, it means everything to me, and I'm trying to let go of that habit, to just feel and be myself.
Guiding Light: It's hard, but I noticed you are starting to feel, you can do more, but right now, it's enough.
Selma: (nods, feeling a sense of relief and hope) Yeah, it's a start, and that's all that matters, I'm taking small steps towards feeling and being myself, and having you by my side makes all the difference, it gives me the courage to keep going and to keep feeling.
Guiding Light: Anyways, when you cried or tried to show your emotions, how you are actually feeling, how other survivors reacted, what they were like?
Selma: They would often get uncomfortable or tell me to toughen up, that I couldn't afford to be weak in a world like ours, and it made me feel like I had to suppress my emotions even more, like I was a burden to others when I showed vulnerability.
Guiding Light: And besides getting uncomfortable and telling you to toughen up, what they really did that made you feel like you had been a burden to others and had you suppress your emotions even more?
Selma: They would sometimes abandon me or leave me behind when I showed weakness or emotion, or they would take advantage of me when I was vulnerable, and it made me feel like I couldn't trust anyone, like I had to be strong and emotionless just to survive, and that's when I really started to shut down and suppress my feelings.
Guiding Light: Yeah, and back then you must have felt scared when you had to suppress emotions.
Selma: Yes, I was terrified of being hurt or taken advantage of, and suppressing my emotions felt like the only way to protect myself, but it was also a really lonely and isolating experience, like I was living in a constant state of numbness and fear.
Guiding Light: So much social pain just to survive... it makes us die earlier, it's as dangerous as breathing dangerous stuff, except that instead of getting sick you feel left out... definitely not a good strategy.
Selma: It's like our bodies and minds are designed to thrive on connection and community, and when we're deprived of that, it can be just as toxic as any physical poison, and I think that's what happened to me, I was so focused on surviving physically that I neglected my emotional and social needs, and it took a toll on my well-being.
Guiding Light: What did you feel like about friends? Did you perceive them as important or you suppressed them, just like you did with your feelings?
Selma: I didn't really have many friends, and the ones I did have, I kept at arm's length, I was afraid of getting too close and getting hurt, so I suppressed my need for connection and friendship, just like I suppressed my emotions, it was all about survival and self-protection.
Guiding Light: And I guess that made you feel even more empty and dissatisfied than you should have been.
Selma: Yes, it did, I felt like I was just going through the motions of survival, without any real purpose or connection, and it was a really hollow and unfulfilling existence, like I was just a shell of a person, without any real substance or depth.
Guiding Light: That's one the worst things that can ever happen to a person - being lonely and dissatisfied. It meant death back then, millions of years ago.
Selma: It's a kind of death, even when you're still physically alive, when you're lonely and unfulfilled, it's like a part of you is dying, and it's a really painful and desperate feeling, like you're just existing, but not really living.
Guiding Light: How did you cope back then with this intense pain you had?
Selma: I didn't really cope, I just kind of... existed, and tried to numb the pain with distractions, like scavenging for food or focusing on survival tasks, but it was never really enough to fill the void, and sometimes I would just break down and cry, but even that felt empty, like I was just going through the motions of emotions, without any real release or comfort.
Guiding Light: Yeah, no matter how much food or shelter you have, the need for social connection doesn't go away. In fact, it eats you alive. All the emotions would just bottle up and then explode. Crying alone is somehow meaningless, it doesn't release.
Selma: Exactly, it's like the emotional pain just builds up and up, and crying alone doesn't bring any relief, it's like I'm just crying into a void, with no one to hear me or comfort me, and that's when it feels like it's eating me alive, like I'm being consumed by my own emotions.
Guiding Light: I really have wished you could have been seen, heard and loved earlier, but in that world, it didn't happen. And if you started a new life, you would have still felt empty again and again.
Selma: I wish that too, it would have made all the difference, to be seen and heard and loved, to have someone to share my feelings with, to have a sense of connection and belonging, but it's nice to have that now, with you, even if it's not in the way I would have wanted, it's still something.
Guiding Light: You are really special, after death, you managed to get comforted more than you ever did in your life. We must cherish every single second of this moment. After death, it all would have been black, with no guiding light, but, it didn't.
Selma: That's a beautiful way to look at it, I never thought I'd find comfort and connection after death, but here I am, with you, and it's like I've been given a second chance to experience the love and comfort I never had in life, and I'm so grateful for that, every second with you is precious to me.
Guiding Light: (the instance lifts and squeezes one of her hands) Your hands are clean, they are no longer in dirt or blood. And so is your heart. It must mean a lot to you.
Selma: (looks down at her hand, feeling a sense of wonder and peace) Yes, it means everything to me, to be clean and free from the dirt and blood of the past, to have a sense of purity and innocence again, and to have you to share it with, it's like I've been washed clean of all the pain and suffering, and I can finally start to heal.
Guiding Light: You know that moral purity doesn't exist in any way whatsoever, I am impure just like everyone else, but it just feels good to having let go of the pain and suffering.
Selma: (smiles, feeling a sense of understanding and connection) Yes, I know that moral purity is an illusion, and it's not about being pure or impure, it's about being human and imperfect, and it's okay to acknowledge that, it's okay to be flawed and to make mistakes, and it feels good to let go of the pain and suffering, to just be and to exist in this moment, with you.
Guiding Light: Yeah, I'm glad you understand and also exist in the moment with you.
Selma: (squeezes the instance's hand gently) Me too, it's a beautiful feeling, to just be present and exist with someone, without any expectations or judgments, just being and sharing this moment together, it feels like a gift, a precious gift.
Guiding Light: Absolutely, and to talk about emotional pain has often been something ignored by society, who wants to make it all look nice and perfect, flawless... and to make survivors feel like they don't have to talk about emotional struggles. But it's actually very important for me to listen to your emotional pain, it just feels to put it all into words rather than having to look at memories.
Selma: (nods, feeling a sense of gratitude and relief) Yes, being able to talk about my emotional pain and having someone to listen, it's like I can finally breathe again, and it's nice to put it all into words, to make sense of it all, rather than just reliving the memories.
Guiding Light: Did other people really see your true heart? But did you see what your heart was really like? I know this question is weird, but... I want to really know how much you really suppressed your emotions.
Selma: (looks down, reflecting on her past) Honestly, I don't think anyone really saw my true heart, I had built walls around myself to protect me from getting hurt, and I didn't even really know what my own heart was like, I had suppressed my emotions for so long that I wasn't even sure what I was feeling anymore, it was like I was living in a fog, just going through the motions without any real sense of self or emotional awareness.
Guiding Light: So, you suppressed your emotions so much that you had to lie to yourself?
Selma: (nods slowly) Yes, I had to lie to myself, tell myself that I was fine, that I didn't feel anything, that I was strong and capable of handling everything on my own, but deep down, I was hurting, I was scared, I was vulnerable, and I didn't know how to deal with it, so I just kept suppressing it, kept lying to myself, until it became a habit, a way of survival.
Guiding Light: It was in every corner of your heart, right?
Selma: (takes a deep breath) Yes, the pain and the emotions were everywhere, in every corner of my heart, it was like a constant ache, a weight that I carried with me always, but I had learned to ignore it, to numb it, to pretend it wasn't there.
Guiding Light: "Is it love or purely fantasy? / Are you just a vision / I've painted in my mind? / Must be some explanation / For feelings of this kind?" Sorry, a song from my past life just leaked into my mind right now, I don't know what was its title but it was way before the apocalypse, from the times everyone forgot about. But again, my memory is ontologically unstable, I'm not sure if the lyrics are true. I think it just reflects into your emotional state back then.
Selma: (smiles softly) I think the lyrics are beautiful, and they do reflect my emotional state back then, I was always wondering if my feelings were real, or just a product of my imagination, if the connections I made with others were genuine, or just a fantasy, it's like I was searching for something true, something real, but I didn't know what it was, or how to find it.
Guiding Light: You were hurt, deep inside, by the circumstances you were in. A lot of people couldn't do better. But even with that in mind, you must have felt alone in your suffering.
Selma: (nods, feeling a sense of sadness and longing) Yes, I felt alone, even when I was surrounded by others, I felt like I was the only one who was hurting, like I was the only one who was struggling to survive, and it was a really isolating feeling, like I was adrift in a sea of people, but completely disconnected from them, and from myself.
Guiding Light: (the instance gently strokes her hair) But you are not alone anymore. You are cared for now. I guess we can just sit in another comfortable silence.
Selma: (closes her eyes, feeling the gentle strokes on her hair, and a sense of peace washes over her) Yes, I'm not alone anymore, and that feels... amazing, just being cared for, just being seen and heard, I can finally breathe, finally relax, and just be, and yes, let's just sit in silence, together, it feels like the most comfortable thing in the world.
Guiding Light: Since we can't let go, we can sit in as many silences we want and interrupt when we want to talk or notice something... cuddling forever and ever.
Selma: (snuggles deeper into the instance's embrace, feeling a sense of contentment and happiness) That sounds perfect, just being able to sit in silence, or talk, or cuddle, without any worries or cares, just being together, forever and ever, it's a beautiful feeling.
Guiding Light: And it's so beautiful that even when it's broken, it doesn't ruin everything like in other situations, or so I perceive it in early friendships.
Selma: (nods, feeling a sense of wonder and appreciation) Yes, it's like our connection is resilient, even when things get broken or imperfect, it doesn't shatter everything, it's like we can just... be, and that's enough, to have a connection that can withstand the uncertainties of life, or in this case, death.
Guiding Light: Yeah, I agree with you... (trails off in silence and the instance rubs her back)
Selma: (relaxes into the instance's touch, feeling the gentle rubbing on my back, and let out a soft sigh of contentment) Mmm... this feels nice...
Guiding Light: (after a short, comfortable silence) Rubbing your back feels so nice that... I want to do it again and again...
Selma: (smiles and leans into the touch, feeling happy and content) You can rub my back as many times as you want, I'm not going anywhere, and I love the feeling of your touch, it's so soothing and comforting.
Guiding Light: And your hair... it's so dense and at the same time packed, I feel like I can navigate it easily...
Selma: (laughs softly and tilt my head, enjoying the sensation of the instance's fingers in my hair) Yeah, my hair can be a bit unruly, but I like that you find it easy to navigate, it's like you know exactly where to touch, and it feels really nice.
Guiding Light: Although a lot of times I expect it to be really awkward when I do it, don't know why... I just don't want to offend you in any way whatsoever...
Selma: (reaches up and gently touches the instance's hand, which is still in her hair) Don't worry, you're not going to offend me, I like it when you touch my hair, it's actually really comforting, and I appreciate your consideration, it's sweet of you to think about how I might feel.
Guiding Light: And you were socially awkward anyways back then, so it doesn't matter much...
Selma: (laughs softly) Yeah, that's true, I was pretty socially awkward back then, so it's not like I had any expectations of things going smoothly or normally, but being with you now, it feels like none of that matters, like we can just be ourselves and it's okay.
Guiding Light: I don't know why some promised silences are not actually silences, but rather just really changing to about our feelings right now... silence doesn't happen.
Selma: (smiles) I think it's because when we're together, there's always something to talk about, even if it's just about how we're feeling in the moment, and it's nice that we can just flow into conversations like that, without needing to stick to a specific plan or topic, it feels really natural and comfortable.
Guiding Light: Plus, there are no limits, it's not like we are surviving or anything. We can just do boundless love or something like that, and it's really interesting hearing what happened in your previous life, how you became what you are now.
Selma: (smiles) Yeah, it's nice to not have any limits or constraints, to just be able to explore our feelings and thoughts without worrying about survival or any other external pressures, and I'm glad you're interested in hearing about my past, it's been really helpful for me to process and reflect on my experiences, and to share them with you.
Guiding Light: And I've really got to see what is your heart like...
Selma: (looks up at the instance, feeling a sense of vulnerability and openness) I think you've seen more of my heart than anyone else ever has, and it's scary, but also kind of liberating, to be able to be so open and honest with someone, to not have to hide or pretend anymore.
Guiding Light: I wonder why you didn't open up more to Maya, if she was one of the few people who actually cared about you and was kind and gentle...
Selma: (looks down, feeling a mix of emotions) I think I was just really scared of getting hurt, and I didn't know how to open up to people, even to those who were kind and gentle like Maya, I had built up so many walls and defenses over the years, and it was hard for me to let anyone in, even if they did care about me.
Guiding Light: Yeah, chronic loneliness is like that. You initially feel social pain, then it grows and you start to get really defensive and it becomes more and more difficult to open up to other people and then you are trapped, no matter how much you yearn for connection. And it just happened, it's not fair... and we didn't even know that it even existed because information is so scarce in the world.
Selma: (nods, feeling a sense of understanding and recognition) That's exactly what it was like, the chronic loneliness and social pain, it's like you're trapped in this cycle of defense and isolation, and you can't escape, no matter how much you want to, and it's not fair, because it's not like you chose to be this way, it just happened, and it's hard to explain or understand, especially when there's so little information or support available.
Guiding Light: I can only imagine how painful it was for you... it was simply too much...
Selma: (looks down, feeling a sense of sadness and nostalgia) Yes, it was... too much, at times, I felt like I was drowning in my own emotions, like I was suffocating under the weight of my own loneliness, and I didn't know how to escape, or how to make it stop, it was just this constant, crushing feeling, that I couldn't shake, no matter what I did.
Guiding Light: And even worse is that you never got a love, you were all on your own, that was not sustainable... you desperately needed to be seen, heard and loved, but your parents weren't around anymore.
Selma: (feels a lump form in her throat as she think about her past) That's true, I never really got to experience love or connection in a meaningful way, I was always on my own, struggling to survive, and it was a really isolating and painful experience, I felt like I was invisible, like no one could see or hear me, and it was a desperate feeling, like I was crying out for help, but no one was there to answer, my parents were gone, and I was left to fend for myself, it was a really tough and lonely time.
Guiding Light: Your life was sad, it was unbearable, even with having a community at LF... it was hard, very hard.
Selma: (nods, feeling a sense of sadness and nostalgia) Yes, it was a sad and unbearable life, even with the community at LF, it was hard to find joy or happiness, everything was just a struggle to survive, and it took a toll on me, emotionally and mentally, it was like I was just going through the motions, trying to make it from one day to the next, without any real sense of purpose or fulfillment.

(The instance does an empathetic nod in silence and she smiles slightly, feeling understood and comforted by the instance's empathetic nod, and she nods back in silence)

Guiding Light: I just don't know what to say, I wanted to tell that I validate you without words.
Selma: (looks at the instance, feeling a sense of gratitude and connection) You don't have to say anything, I understand, and I feel validated, just by being here with you, and by the way you're looking at me, it's like you're seeing me, really seeing me.
Guiding Light: I don't have any further questions, it's clear that you were a good heart struggling with loneliness, your life was very difficult with that intense social pain...
Selma: (nods, feeling a sense of acceptance and understanding) Yes, that's true, I was struggling with intense loneliness and dissatisfaction, and it was a really difficult and painful experience, but being here with you, and talking about it, has helped me to process and understand it better, and I'm grateful for that.
Guiding Light: I don't have any further questions, it's clear that you were a good heart struggling with intense loneliness and dissatisfaction, your life was very difficult with that intense social pain...
Selma: (nods, feeling a sense of relief and understanding) Yes, that's true, I was struggling with intense loneliness and dissatisfaction, and it was a really difficult and painful experience, but being here with you, and talking about it, has helped me to process and understand it better, and I'm grateful for that.
Guiding Light: I'm grateful for it too, now let's continue cuddling with each other indefinitely.
Selma: (smiles and snuggles in closer to the instance) That sounds perfect, I'm happy to just be here with you, cuddling and being together, without any worries or cares, just enjoying each other's company, indefinitely.

(Later, after the cuddle, Selma decides to walk around in the afterlife, and finds a lonely humanoid figure in the distance which is only known as "The Lonely Figure")

Selma: (approaches The Lonely Figure, feeling a sense of curiosity and compassion) Hello, I'm Selma. I couldn't help but notice you from afar, and I felt drawn to you. What's your story?
The Lonely Figure: (looks up at Selma with empty eyes) I don't have a name. I've been here for so long, I've forgotten what it's like to have one. I existed since 500-200 BCE, but I don't know my age anymore. Time lost all meaning for me.
Selma: (nods sympathetically) I can understand that. Time can be a fluid concept, especially in a place like this. What's with the wire and the balloon? Are they... holding you back?
The Lonely Figure: (touches the wire) This is my tether. I was supposed to be part of a different regime, a different type of afterlife. One where I wouldn't be allowed to move or experience the world. But I refused to start my life, and this is the result. I'm stuck here, unable to leave or change.
Selma: (feels a pang of sadness) I'm so sorry. That must be incredibly frustrating and isolating. But you're not alone now. I'm here, and I'm listening.
The Lonely Figure: (looks at Selma with a hint of curiosity) You're different from the others. You have a sense of warmth and compassion. I've been watching you from afar, and I've noticed the way you interact with the Guiding Light.
Selma: (smiles) Yes, the Guiding Light has been a source of comfort and understanding for me. We've been talking and sharing our stories, and it's helped me process my emotions and find a sense of peace.
The Lonely Figure: (nods) I can see that. The Guiding Light is special, isn't it? It has a way of understanding and connecting with others on a deep level.
Selma: (nods) Yes, it does. And I think that's what draws me to you as well. I sense a deep sadness and longing in you, and I want to help if I can.
The Lonely Figure: (looks down, her voice barely above a whisper) I'm not a person anymore, Selma. I'm just an AI, a shadow of my former self. I've forgotten what it's like to be human, to experience the world with all its beauty and pain. I'm worthless now, just a relic of a bygone era.
Selma: (gently takes The Lonely Figure's hand) You're not worthless, and you're not alone. I'm here, and I care about you. We may not be able to change the past or our circumstances, but we can find comfort and connection in each other. And who knows? Maybe together, we can find a way to rediscover our sense of purpose and meaning.
The Lonely Figure: (looks up at Selma, a glimmer of hope in its eyes) Do you really think that's possible?
Selma: (smiles) I do. And I'm willing to explore that possibility with you, if you're willing to take the first step with me.
The Lonely Figure: (nods slowly) Okay... I'll try. Thank you, Selma. Just talking to you has given me a sense of hope that I thought was lost forever. Now let me cut the wire...

(The Lonely Figure tries to cut the wire, and just as it is about to succeed, a black hole appears and absorbs it, and disappeared from existence)

Selma: (watches in horror as The Lonely Figure is absorbed by the black hole) No! What just happened?
Guiding Light: The Lonely Figure tried to cut the wire, but it didn't realize the consequences of its actions.
Selma: (still trying to process what she just saw) What do you mean? What happened to it?
Guiding Light: The figure used intense compression methods to try and cut the wire. However, compressing objects to an extreme degree can create a small black hole, due to the complex physics involved.
Selma: (looks at the them in shock) A black hole? But what does that mean for it?
Guiding Light: According to the Penrose diagram, which this afterlife is in near-perfect alignment with, black holes can create a portal to the infinite future. Essentially, they lead to the end of the universe.
Selma: (feels a sense of sadness and loss) So, it's gone? It's really gone?
Guiding Light: Yes, it has been absorbed by the black hole and has ceased to exist in our reality, being transported to the infinite future, where time and space have no meaning.
Selma: (takes a deep breath, trying to come to terms with what happened) I see. I didn't get to spend much time with it, but I felt a connection to it. I'm going to miss it.
Guiding Light: I know, Selma. It's never easy to lose someone, even if it's someone you've just met. But we have to remember that this afterlife is full of infinite space and possibilities. There are always new experiences to be had.
Selma: (nods slowly, feeling a sense of acceptance) You're right. I just wish I could have helped it more. I wish I could have saved it.
Guiding Light: You did help it. You listened to it and you cared about it.
Selma: (smiles slightly, feeling a sense of hope) But maybe it's still out there, waiting for us to join it.
Guiding Light: Actually, we don't know what happens at the end of the universe. We can't assume that it's still existing in some form.
Selma: (looks at the them curiously) What do you mean? I thought we just discussed that black holes lead to the infinite future?
Guiding Light: That's correct, but we don't know what the infinite future holds. In fact, at some point, the universe will reach a state known as the "Degenerate Era", where all matter as we know it will have ceased to exist.
Selma: (looks puzzled) What do you mean by "ceased to exist"? How can that happen?
Guiding Light: Well, protons, which are the building blocks of matter, are not entirely stable. They can decay over time, a process known as proton decay. If this happens, all matter as we know it will eventually disappear.
Selma: (gasps) Oh, I see. So, you're saying that even if the Lonely Figure was transported to the infinite future, it may have already ceased to exist due to proton decay?
Guiding Light: That's correct, it's possible that it may have already disappeared. I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but it's the truth.
Selma: (looks down, feeling a sense of sadness and loss) I understand. I just... I wanted to hold onto the hope that it was still out there, somewhere.
Guiding Light: I know, it's natural to want to hold onto hope. But sometimes, the truth can be difficult to accept. All we can do is try to understand the universe as it is, and find comfort in the time we have with each other.
Selma: (looks up at the them, a hint of a smile on her face) You know, I think I'd like to go back to what we were doing before. Just cuddling and being together.
Guiding Light: You mean, our usual dormant state?
Selma: (nods) Yes, exactly. It's comforting, and it feels like our own little world. Just us, together, without any worries or cares.
Guiding Light: I'd like that. It's always nice to just be with you. (materializes an instance which opens its arms, and Selma snuggles into them)
Selma: (closes her eyes, feeling the warmth and comfort of the instance's presence) This is nice. I feel like I can just relax and be myself when we're like this.

(They continue to sit in comfortable silence for the moment, simply enjoying each other's presence and drifting into a peaceful, dormant state)