Ever came to be alive again - if life it could be called. He had a fully functioning body, modest clothes and little else. Most importantly, he had five, human senses that at this point in time, were being assaulted by the world in which he lay.

  Ever, wake up.

  Ever opened his eyes and immediately squeezed them shut again. Light and dark shifted across his face, like two warring sides fighting for territory.

  You can’t lay there all day.

  Death’s voice echoed in that way only his voice could: sounding far away but right next to Ever at the same time.

  Ever, get up!

  “Yes, Mentor.”

  Ever sat bolt upright, hands flying to his mouth. Was that his voice? He then saw his hands, these appendages that were divided into five, smaller ones. He stared at them in fascination, slowly raising one up.

  Amazing isn’t it? The human body.

  “The human body,” Ever echoed. He turned his head; there were other humans walking around, glancing his way, then walking faster.

  Err, try not to talk out loud, you sound crazy.

  “Crazy?” Ever asked. A mother clasped her child’s hand tighter, pulling her away even further from Ever as they hurried past.

  *Crazy?* Ever asked, through his mind.

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  Better. You’ll have a better experience on Earth if people don’t think you’re out of your mind.

  *Out of my mind?*

  There was silence for a while. Why don’t you explore the area? Get used to your body while you’re at it.

  Ever nodded. He dropped his hands to the ground and snatched it up again.

  “Ouch.”

  That’s called grass. It gets dry and prickly when it’s not watered. Good to touch it once in a while.

  Ever frowned at the greenness around him, slowly putting his hands down again. He got up on his knees then stood. There was a lot of this grass and a few taller structures with green rustling and waving.

  *Trees.*

  Yep, looks like your memory of basic things is coming back to you. Ever could almost see his mentor nodding.

  Ever took a step, then another. For eons, he had floated. To now have these long, complicated appendages felt… surprisingly good.

  Beep!

  “Hey what are you doing?” Someone had stuck their head out the car window, yelling at him. Ever ran across to the other side of the road in alarm.

  Let’s not lose our life on the very first day, shall we? Though granted if you lose your life, you’re just going to end up back down here…

  Ever walked tentatively on the path, concentrating on the cars that drove past him. Once he ascertained that they weren’t going to suddenly change direction and drive into him, he relaxed. He looked at the store fronts he was passing.

  “Pizza… pasta…” The words fell out of his mouth clumsily.

  You’re walking on Lygon Street. It’s full of restaurants. People will come here to eat.

  He stopped at a big sign in the window.

  “Casual Staff Wanted, Enquire Within…” The soul mouthed. He blinked; the sign was shifting. A woman had taken it off the window and looked at Ever, eyebrow raised.