THE MOMENT
It was hard not to feel special. Dwayne was the only child in his age group in a big extended family with several aunts and uncles on each side eager to dote on him. He grew up mildly spoiled, but reasonably well adjusted, thanks in big part to one of his favorite aunts. She was the esoteric sheep of the family and well traveled. Whenever she visited for holidays, she gave him strange treats that he'd never been able to find in any store, and she always spent some time telling him how well he was growing up, and telling him about the world beyond the town.
It was during a particularly rough holiday in his teen years that she'd really solidified her top spot in his affection. Like every teen ever, he felt like he couldn't do anything right, and she was there to help him through it. She told stories that he was sure were made up about her travels, and that was when she delivered the one line he'd taken to heart more than anything.
"You know.., you're not going through it alone; even if you don't see anyone else around. You share the same soul with someone from a different timeline. There's another version of you going through life somewhere out there beyond the void," she'd said. At the time, he wasn't in the mood for her usual personality.
"That doesn't help," he shook his head. "Two versions of me are miserable?"
"At least," she giggled as she playfully nudged his shoulder. That was enough to break through the thin layer of ice he'd been trying to keep between them. "But the bigger lesson is, try to learn to listen to yourself. Maybe there's a version that isn't miserable, and maybe if you listen, your soul will have some advice from that other experience."
She'd passed on when he was 22, and now, another 15 years after that, Dwayne was inside a shiny chrome lobby, seated among dozens of others with a number in his hand. And, he was thinking about his favorite aunt with a smile. She would've loved to have seen all the things that happened after her funeral.
"Number 72," a well-dressed employee in a metallic platinum blazer called out from a door, and Dwayne stood to follow her through the door and through a narrow hall. After a few turns, she encouraged him into one of the offices, then followed to sit behind the desk.
"Hello, my name is Enna, welcome to Chroma Corp., and the multiverse," she grinned. "What is your name, please?"
"Dwayne Reyes," he nodded. "This is all real, right?" He had to ask out of pure, rigid principle. Chroma Corp. had arrived and introduced their Earth to the multiverse over six months ago, and things changed fast. He doubted they could con the entire world's governments, and he'd had friends who swore they already visited alternate universes. On the one hand, there was little doubt in his mind about the reality of it. But, on the other hand, his sense of reality was barely holding on, and he needed that extra confirmation.
"Quite real, you'll find out soon enough," Enna nodded. "I'm doing what I can to process everyone as quickly as possible," she said. She slid a transparent glass card across the desk to him as she continued. "To that end, this node has a thorough tutorial to help you acclimate yourself to the multiverse at your own pace. This is really all you're here for; we need a record that we gave you one," she added with a quick glance at the door. "Unless you have any questions about anything specific?" Dwayne was surprised and mildly disappointed. He anticipated a professional presentation of some sort, or at least an exposition dump that would let him form some questions.
"I do," he nodded. It'd been on his mind since he first heard about the multiverse. "There's another version of me out there, right? Is there any way...," he thought about his question, then reconsidered it with a shake of his head. "I mean, I guess the question is... is it okay for me to meet another version of myself? Is there another version of me?"
"Likely millions," Enna nodded. "It's not at all forbidden to meet other versions of yourself. In fact, as you complete the tutorial, you'll be given the opportunity to join a group chat with all your alternate selves. You can compare notes in real time," she said.
"Wait.. really?" he'd never considered that. "Millions?" The number was too big to think about, and he decided to tangentially wonder what that kind of chatroom would look like. It also seemed to conflict with his favorite advice.
"This might be a weird question... but it feels like Chroma Corp. is super advanced. Is there a way to check... I mean. I feel like I share the same soul with someone from a different timeline. Is ..uh.. that covered in the tutorial?" he asked.
"No," Enna shook her head with a professional smile. "It's not covered. That's an interesting suggestion, though. I'll send it up the chain, and maybe it will be added in a future service update."
"Added?" Dwayne asked. "Wait... you're gonna do that? Does that mean you can check?"
"No, sorry," Enna shook her head. "I just meant the part about sharing the same soul with someone from a different timeline. It's hardly mentioned at all, and it's useful information in some circumstances," she said.
"You're saying that part's true... but you can't check?"
"I suppose we could," Enna shrugged. "I don't see that it adds anything useful; we already know. That's why you're here." Chroma Corp. was apparently doing a 'multiversal rollout' in an organized fashion, and he needed to wait six months for his appointment. They'd sent him the appointment invitation the same as everyone else in the city and world.
"What do you mean, that's why I'm here? You know I share the same soul with someone from a different timeline??"
"Ahh, I see," Enna nodded. "You got the sentiment right, but your focus is a little off," she smiled and pointed directly at his face. "YOU share the same soul with someone from a different timeline. And, so do I, and so does almost everyone else in the world; that's how the multiverse works. Your alternate versions are like different fragments of your soul, just as my alternate versions are fragments of mine."
"What do you mean, almost everyone?" Dwayne asked. He was feeling unsure about how he wanted to feel. Did his aunt know? Had she really visited some of the places she talked about, and were they alternate universes? How little had she actually lied to him?
"You'll get the full explanation from the tutorial," Enna nodded at it to remind him he already had all the answers he needed. "But, there are beings called 'Unique Souls'. They don't share the same soul across different timelines and universes. They are the singular and complete version of themselves; their entire soul in one body. If you got this appointment, you're not one," she added.
"Thank you," Dwayne decided he was done thinking for a little bit, and he stood with the node in hand. Enna rose with him to guide him back out.
"I hope you don't dwell on it too much," Enna said with a sincere tone as they navigated the corridor. "Just because Unique Souls exist, and there are other versions of you, it doesn't mean you're not special. Not that you would think that, but it's a very common response I get..," she said.
"Thank you, Enna," he said it again with deliberate eye contact and a smile, before he shook his head.
"That's not how I look at it. I'm actually feeling better than ever about myself. I mean, really, how can I NOT feel special? There are millions of alternate versions of me out there...," he smiled. "But, I'm the only one who knew my favorite aunt."